To: LANL-ALL

From: Terry C. Wallace, Jr., DIR

Date: May 10, 2018

SUBJECT: NATIONAL NUCLEAR SECURITY ADMINISTRATION (NNSA) ANNOUNCES
PLANS FOR FUTURE PLUTONIUM MISSION

The NNSA announced their recommended alternative for the production of plutonium pits this afternoon. This is the result of the government's long-term analysis to determine how best to meet the Nuclear Posture Review's (NPR) requirement to produce no fewer than 80 pits per year by 2030 in support of the nation's strategic nuclear deterrent.

Their conclusion is to continue with full-scale pit production at Los Alamos National Laboratory and to create additional capability at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina. This commitment by the government to expand our plutonium mission reiterates the critical role we play in ensuring the nation's security--and pit manufacturing is central to that. We have been called upon to serve the nation, which we will do in the same tradition of excellence that has defined our contributions for the last 75 years.

WHAT THIS DECISION MEANS FOR LOS ALAMOS

Let me be clear about how I interpret this decision: I believe NNSA has given the Laboratory a big vote of confidence today. They are investing an additional $3 billion in new mission space, which includes people, infrastructure, and equipment. This is a significant opportunity to continue contributing to the nation's security by drawing on our unique expertise in plutonium science.

LOOKING AHEAD

As the nation's R&D Plutonium Center of Excellence, Los Alamos will be expected to be involved in the design of a next-generation plutonium processing facility, conducting development activities for new manufacturing methods, and assisting in training a new plutonium workforce. I want to highlight this last point. The nation will look to us to help train the Savannah River Site workforce as NNSA brings up this new capability. I expect our workforce will draw on our rich history of training and our ability to transfer knowledge to help our partners in South Carolina.

Throughout all of this, we must continue to keep focus on meeting our mission requirements safely, securely, and compliantly. Attention to detail will be critical because our customers expect nothing less from us.

In closing, it is my intention to set the Laboratory on the path to significantly increase our plutonium capability by accelerating our investment and resources in the Weapons Program. We have a very talented workforce in Northern New Mexico and will continue to grow and invest in that workforce as we move forward.

I understand the uncertainty of the pit manufacturing decision has resulted in a lot of stress for many of you--myself included--and I think we are in a stronger position today. As more details are fleshed out regarding increased activities at TA-55, I will keep you informed because this will most certainly be a Lab-wide effort. Thank you for everything each of you do every day to make this Laboratory successful.