Transforming the Nuclear Weapons Complex

The Complex Transformation1 Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (SPEIS) analyzes the potential environmental impacts of alternatives to make the U.S. nuclear weapons complex (Complex) smaller, and more responsive, efficient, and more secure. These changes would build upon decisions made in the 1990s following the end of the Cold War and the cessation of U.S. nuclear underground testing. National security policies require the DOE, through the NNSA, to maintain the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile,2 as well as core competencies in nuclear weapons.3 Since completion in 1996 of the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Stockpile Stewardship and Management (SSM PEIS) and associated Record of Decision (ROD) DOE has implemented these policies through the Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP).4 The SSP emphasizes development and application of greatly improved scientific and technical capabilities to assess the safety, security, and reliability of existing nuclear warheads without the use of nuclear testing. Throughout the 1990s, DOE also took steps to consolidate the Complex from twelve sites in the late 1980s to its current configuration of three national laboratories (plus an associated flight test range), four industrial plants, and a nuclear test site.