August 16, 2004

The Stabilization of Nuclear Materials at Los Alamos National Laboratory

In 1994, the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board recommended that the Department of Energy stablize fissionable and radioactive materials at Los Alamos National Laboratory and at numerous other Department sites. Stabilization, by definition, includes activities such as repackaging materials stored in vulnerable containers, processing non-weapons-grade plutonium and direct discard of residues. The purpose of the Board's recommendation was to reduce safey and health risks to Department employees and the public. In 1995, in response to the Board's recommendation, the Department committed to stabilizing all of Los Alamos' fissionable materials by 2002.