Within the next decade, many thousands of U.S. and Russian nuclear weapons are slated to be retired as a result of nuclear arms reduction treaties and unilateral pledges. Hundreds of tons of plutonium and highly enriched uranium will no longer be needed for weapons purposes and will pose urgent challenges to international security. This is the supporting volume to a study by the Committee on International Security and Arms Control which dealt with all phases of the management and disposition of these materials. This technical study concentrates on the option for the disposition of plutonium, looking in detail at the different types of reactors in which weapons plutonium could be burned and at the vitrification of plutonium, and comparing them using economic, security and environmental criteria.
Table of Contents
FRONT MATTER Executive Summary Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Background Chapter 3: Criteria for Comparing Disposition Options Chapter 4: Reactor Options Chapter 5: Disposal of Plutonium Without Irradiation Chapter 6: Comparing the Options Chapter 7: Conclusions and Recommendations
1 FRONT MATTER; 2 Executive Summary; 3
Chapter 1: Introduction; 4
Chapter 2: Background; 5
Chapter 3: Criteria for Comparing Disposition
Options; 6
Chapter 4: Reactor Options; 7
Chapter 5: Disposal of Plutonium
Without Irradiation; 8
Chapter 6: Comparing the Options; 9
Chapter 7:
Conclusions and Recommendations
Panel on Reactor-Related Options for the Disposition of Excess Weapons Plutonium, National Research Council
