Skip to main content

Nuclear Nonproliferation and Safety: Uncertainties About the Implementation of U.S.-Russian Plutonium Disposition Efforts

RCED-98-46 Published: Jan 14, 1998. Publicly Released: Jan 20, 1998.
Jump To:
Skip to Highlights

Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on: (1) the goals of the Department of Energy's (DOE) plutonium disposition program and the impediments facing its implementation; (2) U.S. government officials' views on the importance of a U.S.-Russian agreement on plutonium disposition and the status of efforts to negotiate an agreement; (3) the costs to implement plutonium disposition programs in the United States and Russia; (4) experts' views about the potential nonproliferation impacts of the U.S. plutonium disposition program; and (5) surplus nuclear weapons that are among the sources of plutonium for DOE's disposition plan.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
Because of the uncertainties about Russia's commitment to implement a program similar to the U.S. program, Congress may wish to consider linking DOE's future funding requests for large-scale projects to design and construct plutonium disposition facilities in the United States and Russia to the progress being made in negotiating and signing a bilateral agreement.
Closed – Implemented
Committee Report 105-581, attached to H.R. 4060 (FY1999 Energy and Water Appropriations), dated June 16, 1998, stipulates that DOE should not go forward with plutonium disposition efforts with Russia unless an agreement is signed. The Senate Appropriations report contains similar language. DOE believes this is reasonable and plans to continue working with Russia on negotiating and signing a comprehensive agreement on various aspects pertaining to a plutonium disposition agreement.
Congress may wish to consider requesting that the Department of State, and other appropriate agencies, report periodically on efforts to conclude a plutonium disposition agreement between the United States and Russia.
Closed – Implemented
Committee Report 105-581, attached to H.R. 4060 (FY1999 Energy and Water Appropriations) dated June 16, 1998, stipulates that DOE is expected to report on progress made in achieving an agreement with Russia on plutonium disposition. The Senate report contains similar language. DOE has reported on the status of obtaining a comprehensive agreement in numerous briefings to House and Senate committees during fiscal year 1999.

Full Report

Office of Public Affairs

Topics

Atomic energy defense activitiesCost analysisInternational cooperationNuclear facilitiesNuclear materialsNuclear proliferationNuclear waste disposalNuclear waste managementNuclear weaponsRadioactive wastesPlutonium