FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Public Hearing tomorrow 5/12 on Plutonium Bomb Core Production Plan, and Livermore Lab’s Role
Lawsuit by Livermore Non-Profit Results in Government Public Hearing about New Nuclear Weapons Production and the Dangers Involved
Livermore – The third of five public hearings taking place across the country will happen here in Livermore on Tuesday evening, May 12, beginning at 5pm at Garre Vineyards (7986 Tesla Rd.) The public will finally get the opportunity to comment on the National Nuclear Security Administration’s plans to build up to 205 new plutonium pits per year for a new generation of nuclear weapons designs.
The designs include those in development at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, specifically the W87-1 warhead for the new Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile program which is already years behind schedule and famously over budget. In addition, Livermore Lab has already received over $160 million in funding for “Enterprise Plutonium Pit Support” work in the last few budget cycles, and is slated to receive $167 million more for this work in fiscal year 2027. It is a major player in certification of new plutonium pits for its weapons designs and will carry out the “sub-critical” tests of the new warheads at the Nevada National Security Site necessary to certify a new warhead with all new components.
Production of plutonium will occur elsewhere in the nuclear weapons complex (at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and at Savannah River Site in South Carolina as currently proposed). However, Livermore Lab is so deeply involved in the project, and has announced the need for “Enhanced Plutonium Utilization” at the site. This will require an increase to its Security Category to allow increased “plutonium throughput” and increased quantities of plutonium at individual workstations at the Lab.
The public around the site has expressed serious concerns about the plan. Many plan to show up to the hearing to express not just issues with the plutonium plans at the Lab, but problems with the process. Local resident and board member at Tri-Valley Communities Against a Radioactive Environment (CAREs), Mary Perner, stated, “with more than 85,000 people living in Livermore, and neighborhoods, including my own, stretching right up to the fenceline, I am concerned about the Lab’s plan to “enhance plutonium utilization” in my backyard.”
Tri-Valley CAREs, which was a plaintiff in the lawsuit that resulted in Tuesday’s public hearing coming to Livermore, is led by Executive Director, Scott Yundt. “This hearing is the result of several years of letter writing and litigation that coalesced the efforts of communities around the country expressing the need for the government to release a nation-wide analysis of the impacts of this major nuclear weapons development plan to include all of the directly affected communities, including Livermore,” Yundt said.
“The lawsuit resulted in a settlement that mandates five public hearings across the country, two of which occurred last week in Aiken, South Carolina and Kansas City, Missouri. Hundreds showed up to express opposition to this dangerous, proliferation-provocative and outrageously expensive plan. We expect more of the same at the Livermore hearing,” Yundt added.
“I am concerned about the potential for an accident involving trucks shipping plutonium and radioactive waste in and out of Livermore Lab on 580’s busy Altamont Pass. Additionally, there is the potential for an accident at the site with plutonium that could impact workers and nearby neighbors like me. The Draft PEIS fails to analyze that very real possibility,” one of Tri-Valley CAREs founders, Marylia Kelley said.
Kelley added, “Having monitored the site for decades, I know first hand that there have been many accidents, spills and releases of radiation into the environment, including releases of plutonium. This plan is a recipe for more contamination.
“I am opposed to the dangerous plutonium production work planned at Los Alamos and Savannah River Site, and I am opposed to the support work being done here in Livermore. The entire plan is unnecessary and the government needs to go back to the drawing board and come up with an alternative that is compliance with U.S. obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty,” said Tanvi Kardile, Tri-Valley CAREs Nuclear Policy Program Director.
All are welcome to attend the Public Hearing, including members of the media. The NNSA will host a “poster event” from 5-5:30 followed by a short presentation. They will take public comment on the record starting at approximately 5:30. Garre Vinyards is located at 7986 Tesla Rd., Livermore, CA 94550.
Written public comments can also be submitted by July 16, 2026 and can be submitted by email to PitPEIS@nnsa.doe.gov
For the Draft PEIS itself go to:
https://www.energy.gov/nepa/articles/doeeis-0573-draft-environmental-impact-statement-april-2026
For more information go to: https://trivalleycares.org/2026/draft-peis-released-livermore-public-hearing-may-12 and : https://pitpeis.com/
Tri-Valley CAREs staff is available for pre-interviews. For more information contact:
Scott Yundt, Executive Director, Tri-Valley CAREs 415-990-2070 or scott@trivalleycares.org
Marylia Kelley, Senior Advisor, Tri-Valley CAREs – 925-255-3589 marylia@eartlink.net
Tanvi Kardile, Nuclear Policy Program Director, Tri-Valley CAREs 925-549-0910 tanvi@trivalleycares.org