Pentagon bearing down on Biden to shelve nuclear reforms
POLITICO | 11/5/2021
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President Joe Biden’s pledge to limit the role of nuclear weapons is facing growing resistance from Pentagon officials and their hawkish allies, who are arguing to keep the status quo in the face of Chinese and Russian arms buildups.
Biden’s top national security advisers will soon review the conditions under which the United States might resort to using nuclear weapons. Among the options are adopting a “no first use” policy, or declaring that the “sole purpose” of the arsenal is to deter a nuclear conflict and not use them in response to a conventional war or other strategic assault like a cyber attack.
Both would mark major departures from the current posture, which has been purposely ambiguous throughout the nuclear age about whether the United States might strike first, and holds that atomic weapons are for “deterrence of nuclear and non-nuclear attack.”
Biden’s National Security Council plans to convene a high-level meeting on nuclear declaratory policy this month, according to a White House official who spoke to POLITICO on the condition of anonymity because of the issue’s sensitivity.
But China’s surprising nuclear expansion in recent months alongside Russia’s modernization of its arsenal has strengthened the hand of military leaders who oppose any policy changes or significant cuts to a new generation of missiles, bombers and other atomic weapons, according to a half a dozen current and former government officials privy to the discussions.
Multiple administration officials maintain that Biden, drawing on his decades of experience, will ultimately put his own stamp on the nuclear strategy. But what he chooses will also depend on what’s presented to him.
As of now, it doesn’t appear the Pentagon wants to give him much of a choice. “It’s not likely that sole purpose or no first use will be presented as options,” a DoD official familiar with the nuclear review told POLITICO.
John Kirby, the top Pentagon spokesperson, responded to the assertion: “That account offered to you by the official is inaccurate,” he said. DoD is participating in “an inclusive, comprehensive process.”
"Ultimately, of course, this policy is a presidential-level decision," Kirby added.
But others agreed with the unnamed DoD official. “This thing is lost,” said a former government official who is in direct contact with officials undertaking a Nuclear Posture Review and supports considering both a no first use and a sole purpose policy.
“There’s no points of debate,” said the former official, contending that officials who support considering such alternatives, particularly at the State Department, have struggled to get traction in meetings steered by the Pentagon.
“Who in the White House would make this thing happen?” complained the former official. “The document is being generated by DoD.”
The review is slated to be completed in January.
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"CAPITALIZING ON A NEW ERA OF CLEANUP
SUCCESS"
December 7-9, 2021
Hilton Alexandria Mark Center
Alexandria, Virginia
If you have already registered for the Workshop, you will not need to re-register. If you need to register, please click here. If you have questions, please contact Autumn Bogus at abogus@la-inc.com or (865)
300-1061.
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENGAGEMENT
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NOVEMBER 8-12
The RemPlex Global Summit, to be held virtually Nov. 8-12, is being organized in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Summit is hosted by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). This IAEA-PNNL cooperation supports the Summit objectives of promoting knowledge transfer, collaboration, and networking to address challenges to successful remediation and long-term stewardship of
contaminated sites worldwide.
NOVEMBER 15
Roy G. Post Foundation Scholarships in amounts of $5,000 for undergraduate and graduate students will be awarded at the WM2022 Tuesday Honors & Awards Luncheon. Apply now.
NOVEMBER 18
DOE recently issued the Draft Waste Incidental to Reprocessing Evaluation for the Test Bed Initiative Demonstration (Draft WIR Evaluation) concerning a proposed 2,000-gallon demonstration of the Test Bed Initiative for technical review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and to obtain input from the public during a 90-day public comment period that begins November 5,
2021.
A virtual public meeting on the Draft WIR Evaluation will be held on November 18, 2021. After consultation with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and considering comments from States, Tribal Nations, stakeholders and the public, DOE plans to prepare a Final WIR Evaluation.
To access the commenting and meeting details, please click here.
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Eielson AFB announced as site for Air Force micro-reactor pilot
SAF/IEE Installation Energy | 10/15/2021
The Department of the Air Force has selected Eielson Air Force Base (AFB) to pilot its first micro-reactor. The next-generation energy capability will provide the installation with a clean, reliable, and resilient nuclear energy supply technology for critical national security infrastructure.
“Energy is a critical asset to ensure mission continuity at our installations,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Environment, Safety, and Infrastructure Mark Correll. “Micro-reactors are a promising technology for ensuring energy resilience and reliability, and are particularly well-suited for powering and heating remote domestic military bases like Eielson AFB.”
The micro-reactor pilot was initiated in response to the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act requirement to identify potential locations to site, construct, and operate a micro-reactor by the end of 2027. The micro-reactor will be commercially owned and operated and U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensed.
“This technology has the potential to provide true energy assurance, and the existing energy infrastructure and compatible climate at Eielson make for the perfect location to validate its feasibility,” said Mr. Correll.
The Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Environment, Safety and Infrastructure is working with the Air Force Office of Energy Assurance, the Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Environment & Energy Resilience, the Department of Energy, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to facilitate the micro-reactor pilot, and to ensure this pilot is conducted with safety as the number one priority.
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Hanford breaks ground on water treatment facility
The Hanford Site | 11/2/2021
Construction of a new water treatment facility began on the Hanford Site in support of the Direct-Feed Low-Activity Waste (DFLAW) Program and future cleanup work.
U.S. Department of Energy Richland Operations Office contractor Hanford Mission Integration Solutions (HMIS) awarded the construction contract for the Central Plateau Water Treatment Facility to Richland’s Fowler General Construction, Inc.
Construction began last month on the 10,000-square-foot facility which will automate water services by providing all potable water to the cleanup hub of the Hanford Site, the Central Plateau, and also will support tank waste treatment operations. The Central Plateau contains Hanford’s former processing facilities, current site operations, and the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant.
Hanford Site leadership participated in a formal groundbreaking to mark the occasion, “Well beyond the start of DFLAW and the transition to 24/7 operations, we’re looking at the next several decades of cleanup, and this water facility will provide services to the entire site for that period of time,” said DOE Office of River Protection and Richland Operations Office manager Brian Vance. “It’s one of many projects now in place that are going to set the conditions for
future work at the site.”
The effort to successfully treat and vitrify, or immobilize in glass, Hanford tank waste for safe disposal will increase the demand for a reliable water supply at facilities and for fire suppression capabilities. The new water facility will increase current daily capabilities from 2.1 million gallons of clean water to 3.5 million gallons, with the ability to expand to 5 million gallons.
HMIS will manage construction of the water facility, scheduled to finish by mid-2023. “We take great pride in our role in the Hanford mission to support all cleanup progress, including long-term tank waste treatment and risk reduction,” said Bob Wilkinson, HMIS president.
The modernized water treatment facility supports a shift to 24/7 operations set to begin on the Hanford Site by the end of 2023, with the start of tank waste treatment.
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Read about DOE's High Level Waste Interpretation
Have questions about DOE’s recent high-level waste (HLW) interpretation? Download ECA’s Key Points and FAQs on the issue to better understand what ECA believes are the potential benefits of implementation.
Interested in learning more? Read the ECA report “Making Informed Decisions on DOE's Proposed High Level Waste Definition” at www.energyca.org/publications
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Stay Current on Activities in the DOE World
Read the latest edition of the ECA Bulletin, a regular newsletter providing a detailed brief of ECA activities, legislative news, and major events from across the DOE complex. Have suggestions for future editions? Email bulletin@energyca.org.
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Learn More about Cleanup Sites with ECA's DOE Site Profiles
ECA's new site profiles detail DOE's 13 active Environmental Management cleanup sites and national laboratories, highlighting their history, missions, and priorities. The profiles are a key source for media, stakeholders, and the public to learn more about DOE site activities, contractors, advisory boards, and their surrounding local governments.
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