Nuclear security

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Alamos_National_Laboratory

Audit: Los Alamos lab falling short of completing certain tests related to nuclear weapons

By Dibya Sarkar

Delays in certain tests performed by the Los Alamos National Laboratory could affect the safety, reliability and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, the Energy Department's inspector general said in a recent report. Data from the non-nuclear hydrodynamic tests, known as hydrotests, are used by the National Nuclear Security Administration to help validate and refine computer models, which help the agency assess the weapons stockpile. The hydrotest data also support development of new materials, components and safety features, and replacement parts, among other things. However, the Energy IG found that the national lab, or LANL, which performs the multimillion-dollar hydrotests that span several years, continues to experience delays in performing these tests. Of the scheduled 19 tests from fiscal years 2010 through 2013, 12 were delayed by one to three years and five tests had not been performed by the end of of fiscal 2013. Of those five tests, three were completed the following year and the other two are expected to be completed in fiscal 2015, according to the IG report (pdf) released Dec. 16. Several factors have contributed to the delays the lab told the IG. They include the complexity of the tests, the importance of technical performance, changing program priorities, and budget issues. However, the IG said that it also identified several specific inefficiencies and project management weaknesses that contributed to the delays. "The inability to complete the required tests within established schedules occurred, in part, because LANL did not fully implement key project management tools or fully transition to a more efficient manufacturing process that would improve test execution," the report said. Additionally, NNSA's Los Alamos field office didn't hold the national lab accountable for not completing the tests as planned and, in fact, the IG said that the lab was given "generally positive evaluations" in its performance. "Without changes, LANL is at risk of not meeting future hydrotest needs, a performance issue that could potentially affect NNSA's fundamental mission," the report noted. "Given LANL's FYs 2010 through 2013 performance, which achieved an average of four hydrotests per year, it is unclear whether LANL has the ability to meet its new goal of 10 hydrotests per year starting in FY 2016." The IG added the delays could affect other components of the program as well as NNSA's ability to gauge and validate the current stockpile. While the report indicated that the national lab is implementing improvements toward completing 10 hydrotests per year by fiscal 2016, the IG said more action is needed to ensure that the hydrotest program meets NNSA's mission.  Read more at: https://e.mail.ru/message/14192772320000000497/