A U.S. federal judge has ruled that the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) violated environmental regulations by failing to properly assess the expansion of plutonium pit production at two nuclear sites located in South Carolina and New Mexico. The judge’s decision comes after plaintiffs argued that the agency relied on outdated environmental impact studies and did not sufficiently evaluate the combined effects of simultaneous production at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina and the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.
The court’s ruling, delivered by Judge Mary Geiger Lewis, stated that the NNSA did not adequately consider how its two-site strategy would affect the environment. This decision could impact the multibillion-dollar program focused on modernizing the United States’ nuclear arsenal by manufacturing new plutonium pits, which are critical components for nuclear warheads.
The plaintiffs, which include environmental groups and nuclear-safety advocates, claim that the current plan undermines safety and accountability measures. “These agencies believe they can move forward with their most expensive and complex project ever without necessary public analysis or credible cost estimates,” said Jay Coghlan, director of Nuclear Watch New Mexico, one of the lawsuit’s co-plaintiffs.
The ruling comes at a time when U.S. authorities have recently certified the first new plutonium pit from Los Alamos for deployment. Plutonium pits, hollow and globe-shaped, are placed at the core of nuclear warheads. Plutonium, along with highly enriched uranium, is one of the primary materials used to build nuclear weapons.
Although some of the plaintiffs’ additional claims were rejected, including concerns regarding the disposal of radioactive waste, the judge’s order mandates that both sides work towards a compromise within two weeks. Meanwhile, the NNSA is continuing its operations.
The program, which aims to produce 80 pits annually, has been plagued by rising costs and delays. The court’s decision highlights ongoing concerns regarding environmental safety and accountability as the U.S. moves forward with its nuclear modernization efforts.