NEWS OF THE WEEK
DOE PLANS NEW NUCLEAR BOMB WARHEAD: Lawrence Livermore will engineer new weapons
T
HE DEPARTMENTS OF ENERGY and Defense have selected Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) to move ahead on a design for the nation's first new nuclear warhead in two decades. Galled the reliable replacement warhead (RRW), it is intended to replace or add to the current nuclear stockpile. The design will utilize technology not available during the Cold War, says Thomas D'Agostino, acting administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the part of DOE responsible for nuclear weapons. "This will permit significant upgrades in safety and security features in the replacement warhead that will keep the same explosive yields and other military characteristics as the current weapons," he continues. The NNSA weapons labs had developed two designs— one by Los Alamos National Laboratory (L ANL) and the other jointly by LLNL and Sandia National Laboratories. D'Agostino says the agency selected the LLNL design because it offered "higher confidence" that it could be certified without underground testing. He notes, however, that several features of the LANL design will be developed in parallel with LLNL's, and attributes from both designs maybe combined further in the process. The new weapon is intended initially for nuclear submarine warheads and is being developed with the Navy. However, the basic design is expected to be used for several warhead types. Engineering will take place over the next year; for fiscal 2008, NNSA is requesting some $88 million for design development, and the Navy is seeking another $30 million. The intention is to have
the first of the new weapons in production by 2012. Development of RRW is to be coupled with NNSA's intention of overhauling today's weapons complex with a modern one by 2030. Indeed, a key goal of the modernization program and the new weapon is to give NNSA the capability to produce additional new weapons on short notice if needed in the future, NNSA officials say. A host of opponents, from peace groups to former diplomats to members of Congress, are challenging both RRW and the modernization plan. "This announcement puts the cart in front of the horse," says Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-Ind.), chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee with DOE oversight. "Although a lot of time and energy went into determining the winning design for a new nuclear warhead, there appears to have been little thought given to the question of why the U.S. needs to build new nuclear warheads at this time. "We are not going to begin building more nuclear bombs without a serious and open national debate on the policy questions," Visclosky says. Hearings will take place before his committee this month.—JEFF JOHNSON
Lawrence Livermore National Ignition Facility will use laser beams to compress and heat BB-sized capsules offusionfuel to thermonuclear ignition, thereby avoidingfull nuclear tests.
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY Report highlights impacts of REACH on global industry "Duty of care" obligations must be high on the agenda of companies producing or importing chemicals—or even products containing chemicals—under provisions of the European Union's new REACH legislation for the registration, evaluation, and authorization of chemicals. That's one of the conclusions of a new report from the European offices of Marsh, a risk and insurance services firm. The study outlines the increased business risks that come with REACH, which will be in force on June 1. REACH, which covers more than 100,000 chemical substances used in
the EU, is expected to cost the chemical industry $3 billion over 11 years. Its direct impacts are clear, the report notes. Any company active in the EU that either supplies chemicals in the EU or has chemical-related investments in the EU will have to comply with it. The report also points out indirect impacts. For example, if testing costs are too high, chemicals may be withdrawn or restricted, thereby triggering product reformulation and reengineering. Moreover, REACH'S "duty of care" obligations will affect the entire supply chain of manufacturers, importers,
WWW.CEN-0NLINE.ORG
\ \
MARCH 12. 2007
downstream users, and distributors, says Christopher Bryce, Marsh's industry practice leader for chemicals and life sciences in Europe. These provisions require firms to communicate use and exposure data to people working with chemicals and to keep records for 10 years after a product is last used. Bryce says companies "need to evaluate how they may be affected by the REACH regulation, understand what the risks are, and decide on the action they should be taking to ensure that they can comply with the wide obligations that REACH will impose."-PATRICIA SHORT
