FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 1998NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
Chris Kielich, 202/586-5806STATEMENT BY SECRETARY OF ENERGY FEDERICO PEÑA ON THE HOUSE APPROVAL OF AN AMENDMENT TO FY '99 DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT ON TRITIUM PRODUCTION
I am disappointed that the House approved an amendment that would effectively limit the Department of Energy's ability to further pursue the use of a commercial light water reactor for tritium production. Tritium is an essential element for maintaining the safety, security and reliability of our national nuclear weapons stockpile.
For the last several years the Department has been pursuing a dual track strategy to keep the options of using a light water reactor or a linear accelerator as a future source of tritium. This decision was on track to be made by the end of 1998, through a deliberative process that included consideration of technical, environmental, cost and nonproliferation issues. The process had the support of the Department of Defense and would have resulted in a decision that included provisions for a backup source of tritium.
By passing this amendment without the benefit of the Administration's congressionally mandated report on this issue and without any significant congressional debate on this issue, the House is prejudging the conclusion of a necessary and important review and foreclosing the lowest cost tritium production option. Congressman Markey offered this amendment on the basis that the US should seek to keep military and civil uses of nuclear energy separate. This is a legitimate policy concern that was under serious review within the Administration as had been directed by the Congress in last year's Defense Authorization Act.
- DOE -
R-98-070
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