Production of Radioactive Gas Delayed

Energy Secretary James D. Watkins told Congress today that he had pushed back the target date for resuming production of a radioactive gas at the Savannah River Site needed in nuclear warhead production, saying the delay would not harm national security.

Watkins said in a letter to the chairmen of the House and Senate Armed Services committees that he is not yet convinced that the three South Carolina nuclear reactors that produce the gas, called tritium, can be operated safely.

“I believe safe start-up is achievable early enough in 1990 to maintain a viable weapons stockpile,” he wrote.

Watkins released copies of his letter after meeting in his office with a group of reporters. He said he notified Defense Secretary Dick Cheney of the delay on Monday.

Watkins told reporters the main reason for putting off restart of the reactors was a need to resolve safety issues and complete retraining of reactor operators.

“There are so many issues that are unresolved in my mind, as they relate to safety,” he said. “I will not allow them (the reactors) to be started this year.”

Up to now, the Energy Department had said it intended to restart the first of the three reactors at Savannah River Site, near Aiken, S.C., by the end of this year. It had said quick resumption of operations was required to assure an adequate supply of tritium, needed to boost the explosive power of nuclear warheads.