Reading Room

Thursday, December 08, 2005  
Nuclear Expansion Okayed

By: Editorial Board
Published In: The Independent, Livermore, CA

The National Nuclear Security Administration has approved increased plutonium and tritium limits at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Experiments at the National Ignition Facility using materials such as uranium and thorium have also been approved. All in all, the decision provides for a major expansion of nuclear activity at the Lab. Opposition groups are undertaking a detailed legal analysis of the decision, focusing on whether the impacts on nuclear proliferation and the environment were adequately addressed. They believe there is grounds for a lawsuit. "Today's decision puts the entire Bay Area at risk," said attorney Loulena Miles. "The DOE received 9000 public comments opposing increases in nuclear materials, as well as the new weapons activities these radioactive materials will support." The government cited national security as the rationale for the decision. In our opinion, this decision will serve to boost nuclear proliferation, not national security. The world is likely to be less secure in the long run.




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