almost---I say, go ahead and dispose of our plutonium (turn it into nuclear reactor fuel). Maybe the Russians need a little more help though. Do it for national security--especially considering how much the takeover of the entire Middle East will cost. We're doing that to protect us from plutonium makers, right?
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portion from: Russian American Nuclear Security Advisory Council (RANSAC)
Preview of the U.S. Department of Energy's Proposed Fiscal Year 2004 Nonproliferation Budget Request http://www.ransac.org/new-web-site/whatsnew/doefy2004.html
William Hoehn
January 29, 2003
For fiscal year (FY) 2004, according to authoritative documents obtained by RANSAC, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to spend a total of $1.3 billion on programs included in its "Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation" (DNN) account, or an increase of approximately $312 million (approximately 30%) over the FY 2003 levels. Amounts provided in the DNN budget are for nonproliferation activities globally - including domestic U.S. nuclear material disposal, U.S. research and development of nonproliferation technologies, cooperative nuclear security activities with Russia and other former Soviet nations, assistance to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and development of international nonproliferation regimes, among other areas.
While the Energy Department is proposing budgetary increases for several important existing programs and proposing to initiate funding in several new areas, the proposed 30% increase in nonproliferation spending by DOE is primarily for surplus plutonium disposition in the United States, and is offset by reductions to or minimal growth in the resources available to a number of key efforts focused on nuclear security in Russia.
Some of the highlights of the DOE proposal are elaborated in further detail below:
*One of the most substantial increases in the DNN account is for domestic disposition of fissile materials (highly-enriched uranium and plutonium) the U.S. has declared excess to weapons needs. A total of approximately $609 million is proposed in FY 2004 for U.S. surplus fissile materials disposal, or a $262 million (75%) increase from fiscal year 2003 funding. The increase requested in this area represents approximately 84% of the total DNN budget increase.
*In addition to the disposition of its own materials, the DOE is also supporting Russia in its efforts to dispose of its plutonium and highly-enriched uranium (HEU) stockpiles. In the area of Russian plutonium disposition, DOE proposes to spend a total of $47.1 million, or a $13.1 million increase over fiscal year 2003....
--------------
portion from: Russian American Nuclear Security Advisory Council (RANSAC)
Preview of the U.S. Department of Energy's Proposed Fiscal Year 2004 Nonproliferation Budget Request http://www.ransac.org/new-web-site/whatsnew/doefy2004.html
William Hoehn
January 29, 2003
For fiscal year (FY) 2004, according to authoritative documents obtained by RANSAC, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to spend a total of $1.3 billion on programs included in its "Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation" (DNN) account, or an increase of approximately $312 million (approximately 30%) over the FY 2003 levels. Amounts provided in the DNN budget are for nonproliferation activities globally - including domestic U.S. nuclear material disposal, U.S. research and development of nonproliferation technologies, cooperative nuclear security activities with Russia and other former Soviet nations, assistance to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and development of international nonproliferation regimes, among other areas.
While the Energy Department is proposing budgetary increases for several important existing programs and proposing to initiate funding in several new areas, the proposed 30% increase in nonproliferation spending by DOE is primarily for surplus plutonium disposition in the United States, and is offset by reductions to or minimal growth in the resources available to a number of key efforts focused on nuclear security in Russia.
Some of the highlights of the DOE proposal are elaborated in further detail below:
*One of the most substantial increases in the DNN account is for domestic disposition of fissile materials (highly-enriched uranium and plutonium) the U.S. has declared excess to weapons needs. A total of approximately $609 million is proposed in FY 2004 for U.S. surplus fissile materials disposal, or a $262 million (75%) increase from fiscal year 2003 funding. The increase requested in this area represents approximately 84% of the total DNN budget increase.
*In addition to the disposition of its own materials, the DOE is also supporting Russia in its efforts to dispose of its plutonium and highly-enriched uranium (HEU) stockpiles. In the area of Russian plutonium disposition, DOE proposes to spend a total of $47.1 million, or a $13.1 million increase over fiscal year 2003....
