U.S. Surplus Weapon-Grade Plutonium Disposition Program

Following the end of the Cold War, stockpiles of surplus weapons-usable material accumulated in the United States and Russia. In 1994, the National Academy of Sciences declared the potential for theft or diversion of stockpiles of surplus nuclear weapons materials as a “clear and present danger” to national and international security. Recognizing this danger, the United States and Russia signed the Plutonium Management and Disposition Agreement (PMDA) in September 2000, which committed each country to dispose of 34 metric tons each of their surplus weapons plutonium—enough for thousands of nuclear weapons. To meet their obligations under the PMDA, both countries will dispose of their surplus plutonium by irradiating it as fuel in nuclear reactors to produce electricity. Once irradiated, the plutonium will meet the spent fuel standard, making it unattractive for use in nuclear weapons. This critical mission aims to eliminate the proliferation threat of enough surplus weapon-grade plutonium for thousands of nuclear weapons. The U.S. program will also help reduce storage costs for nuclear materials, reduce safeguards and security costs, and support the Department of Energy’s efforts to consolidate nuclear materials within the DOE Complex.