[iwar] [fc:Report.Finds.Shortcomings.In.Energy.Dept..Arms.Testing]

From: Fred Cohen (fc@all.net)
Date: 2002-01-04 18:25:02

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From: Fred Cohen <fc@all.net>
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Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2002 18:25:02 -0800 (PST)
Subject: [iwar] [fc:Report.Finds.Shortcomings.In.Energy.Dept..Arms.Testing]
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Washington Post
January 3, 2002
Report Finds Shortcomings In Energy Dept. Arms Testing
Ability to Ensure Weapons' Reliability at Issue, IG Says
By Walter Pincus, Washington Post Staff Writer
The Energy Department's inspector general has determined that the growing
problems associated with the safety and reliability of the nation's nuclear
weapons, without nuclear testing, have become a "most serious challenge
area" for the newly established National Nuclear Security Agency that runs
the weapons complex.
In a report sent to Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham on Dec. 21 and made
public yesterday, Inspector General Gregory H. Friedman said one review his
office conducted last year turned up backlogs in flight and laboratory test
schedules for five of nine nuclear missile warheads and bombs in the
operational stockpile.
Another review, completed last month, showed backlogs of more than 18 months
in correcting defects or malfunctions that were discovered in testing of
older weapons systems.
"Without a robust and complete surveillance testing program, the
department's ability to assess the reliability of some nuclear weapons is at
risk," Friedman wrote.
Each year, the Pentagon and the Energy Department must certify to the
president that the nuclear weapons stockpile is safe and reliable and that
there is no need to resume tests involving the detonation of nuclear
warheads and bombs in underground caverns, as was done until 1992.
At a time when the Bush administration is contemplating sharp reductions in
offensive strategic nuclear missiles and bombs, some lawmakers and senior
officials inside the nuclear weapons complex and the Pentagon have been
talking about the need to resume underground testing, said Sen. John W.
Warner (Va.), ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
"If the surveillance program can't do the job, we will have to resume
testing to make sure our [nuclear] weapons work," Warner said recently.
The government's process of certifying "high confidence" in the nuclear
stockpile involves randomly selecting for testing about 11 units from each
of the nine deployed nuclear warheads on land- and submarine-based
intercontinental missiles and bombs on aircraft. Nuclear warheads, missiles
and bombs are flight-tested by being launched or dropped to see if the
propellants and guidance systems work.
The IG's report showed that, over the past four years, there were delays in
five of 16 tests scheduled for the W-80 warhead used on cruise missiles and
in three of 12 tests scheduled for the W-88, which is carried by the
sub-launched Trident II missiles.
Laboratory tests to see whether handling, aging or manufacturing problems
have developed in components such as radars showed delays in eight of 30
tests related to the B-61 nuclear bombs and in eight of 31 tests planned for
the W-76 warhead used on sub-launched Trident I missiles. Component tests --
which include looking at "pits," or nuclear triggers and detonators -- are
also running behind, with four pit tests delayed out of 13 that were
scheduled for the four-year period.
When successful testing over four years falls below 75 percent of planned
tests, "there is significant concern that anomalies or defects in the
stockpile might have been missed," the IG's report said.
Part of the problem, according to the IG, is that the facilities of the
nuclear weapons complex have been aging and need increased spending for
maintenance and replacement. Congress recently approved an extra $200
million for such work, but more is needed, Energy Department officials say.
When testing shows a defect or malfunction, department procedures require
immediate notification of the nuclear weapons lab that developed the weapon.
Five days after notification, the lab is supposed to determine whether the
problem is significant. If so, the lab has 45 days to determine through
tests whether a major investigation should be initiated since the
reliability and performance of the weapon could be involved.
About 10 percent of significant findings have resulted in "retrofits or
major design changes to the nuclear weapons stockpile," the IG reported.
Nevertheless, the IG recently found that the 45-day period for determining
the significance of problems had grown, in some instances, to 300 days.
After the determination had been made, "over two-thirds of the 64 active
investigations remained unresolved beyond the department's one-year
benchmark for completion," according to the IG's report.
Only a small cadre of engineers and experts carry out these investigations
and they often are involved in other projects, a former top Pentagon
official said. The IG noted that, as of March 2001, 18 of 24 such
investigations remained unresolved after 18 or more months at Los Alamos
National Laboratory, which spent the past two years adapting to tighter
security rules in the wake of allegations of Chinese espionage.
"If these delays continue, the department may not be in a position to
unconditionally certify the aging nuclear weapons stockpile," Friedman
wrote.

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