50 USC 2532 - Manufacturing infrastructure for refabrication and certification of nuclear weapons stockpile

U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024

§ 2532.

Manufacturing infrastructure for refabrication and certification of nuclear weapons stockpile

(a)

Manufacturing program

(1)

The Secretary of Energy shall carry out a program for purposes of establishing within the Government a manufacturing infrastructure that has the capabilities of meeting the following objectives as specified in the most recent Nuclear Posture Review:

(A)

To provide a stockpile surveillance engineering base.

(B)

To refabricate and certify weapon components and types in the enduring nuclear weapons stockpile, as necessary.

(C)

To fabricate and certify new nuclear warheads, as necessary.

(D)

To support nuclear weapons.

(E)

To supply sufficient tritium in support of nuclear weapons to ensure an upload hedge in the event circumstances require.

(2)

The purpose of the program carried out under paragraph (1) shall also be to develop manufacturing capabilities and capacities necessary to meet the requirements specified in the annual Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Memorandum.

(b)

Required capabilities

The manufacturing infrastructure established under the program under subsection (a) shall include the following capabilities (modernized to attain the objectives referred to in that subsection):

(1)

The weapons assembly capabilities of the Pantex Plant.

(2)

The weapon secondary fabrication capabilities of the Y–12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

(3)

The capabilities of the Savannah River Site relating to tritium recycling and fissile materials components processing and fabrication.

(4)

The non-nuclear component capabilities of the Kansas City National Security Campus, Kansas City, Missouri.

(c)

Nuclear Posture Review

(Pub. L. 107–314, div. D, title XLII, § 4212, formerly Pub. L. 104–106, div. C, title XXXI, § 3137, Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 620; Pub. L. 104–201, div. C, title XXXI, § 3132(a), (b), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2829; renumbered Pub. L. 107–314, div. D, title XLII, § 4212, and amended Pub. L. 108–136, div. C, title XXXI, § 3141(e)(13), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1760; Pub. L. 112–239, div. C, title XXXI, § 3131(e), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 2181; Pub. L. 113–66, div. C, title XXXI, § 3146(c)(6), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 1074; Pub. L. 116–92, div. C, title XXXI, § 3139(b)(3), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 1962.)

cite as: 50 USC 2532