Stockpile Stewardship & Mgmt.

A safe and reliable nuclear deterrent is essential for U.S. national security. We help ensure a safe and reliable nuclear deterrent through assessment, surveillance, refurbishment, and dismantlement. The President and the Congress have directed the National Nuclear Security Administration within the Department of Energy (DOE) to maintain the safety and reliability of the nation's nuclear deterrent without underground nuclear testing. In order to do that, DOE has established a program of science‑based stockpile stewardship. Y‑12 is an integral part of that mission.

Stockpile stewardship refers to the activities associated with research, design, development and testing of nuclear weapons and the assessment and certification of their safety and reliability. Stockpile management refers to the activities associated with production, maintenance, surveillance, refurbishment and dismantlement of the nuclear weapons stockpile.

• Quality Evaluation and Surveillance Program provides evaluation, scheduled surveillance, enhanced surveillance, and testing of weapon components and assemblies to assess the integrity and life expectancy of the stockpile.
• Weapons Dismantlement and Disposition Program receives, dismantles, and dispositions retired weapon components and subassemblies from the stockpile.
• Stockpile Stewardship and Maintenance Program supports maintenance and evaluation of the stockpile through manufacturing, process technology, and development support. The program provides the manufacture and delivery of directive schedule requirements, including war reserve components and limited life components.

For news about recent activities involving our stockpile programs, see the following articles in The Y‑12 Report:

From Volume 3, Issue 1

• Bombs away — warheads safely recycled

From Volume 2, Issue 4

• Private-sector partners
• DSW's slice of the pie

View more articles from The Y‑12 Report.