FY 2013 Request for National Nuclear Security Administration

Publication date
Number
22

“Keeping  Americans safe by enhancing nuclear security through defense, nonproliferation  and environmental cleanup” is the one of three priorities in the FY 2013  Department of Energy request sent to Congress on Monday.  The department is requesting $27,155.1  million, an increase of 3.2 percent or $855.5 million for the new fiscal  year.  Of that, $11,535.9 million would  be allocated to the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).

There  are fifteen pages in “Budget Highlights”  submitted as  part of DOE’s Congressional Budget Justification for Fiscal Year 2013  summarizing the FY 2013 request for NNSA.   The introduction to this section (page 54) explains:

The Weapons Activities request reflects  an increase to meet the Administration’s commitments to the programs and  capabilities required to maintain a safe, secure, and effective nuclear  stockpile. Increases are requested for Directed Stockpile Work for the B61 LEP and  W78 life extension study and Readiness in Technical Base and Facilities to  ensure the infrastructure is in place to execute the program mission. The Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation request is driven by the imperative for U.S. leadership in nonproliferation  initiatives both here and abroad. Emphasis continues to be on efforts to secure  vulnerable nuclear materials around the world, and domestic construction on the  MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility. The Naval  Reactors request reflects continued support for execution of three major projects  (i.e., OHIO Replacement, Land-based Prototype Refueling Overhaul, and Spent  Fuel Handling Recapitalization) which are needed to deliver Navy-established  mission requirements. For Office of the  Administrator, the request supports the staffing and Federal support needed  to meet requirements in the programs.

“The  FY 2013 President’s Request for the NNSA is a funding increase over the FY 2012  enacted level, reflecting the importance of the Presidential priorities in  meeting the objectives of the Nuclear Posture Review, cooperative global  nuclear nonproliferation, modernization of the nuclear complex, and the reactor  design and development activities for the Navy’s nuclear fleet. NNSA is a key player  in the implementation of the President's vision to reduce the role of nuclear  weapons in U.S. national security strategy. NNSA will further this goal by  maintaining a safe, secure and effective arsenal to deter any adversary as long  as nuclear weapons exist.”

There  are four major budget categories of NNSA’s request: Weapons Activities, Defense  Nuclear Nonproliferation, Naval Reactors, and Office of the Administrator. The  document provides program highlights and significant funding changes.

Weapons  Activities: (page 55)

Total  Weapons Activities program funding would increase 5.0 percent, or $363.2  million, from $7,214.1 million to $7,577.3 million. 

  • Directed  Stockpile Work funding would increase 11.5 percent
  • Science  campaign funding would increase 5.1 percent
  • Engineering  Campaign funding would increase 5.6 percent
  • Inertial  Confinement Fusion and High Yield Campaign funding would decline 3.1 percent

Defense  Nuclear Nonproliferation: (page 61)

Total  Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation program funding would increase 7.1 percent or  $162.8 million from $2,295.9 million to $2,458.6 million.

  • Nonproliferation  and Verification R&D funding would increase 54.8 percent
  • Nonproliferation  and International Security funding would decline 2.3 percent
  • International  Nuclear Materials Protection and Cooperation funding would decline 45.4 percent
  • Fissile  Materials Disposition would increase 34.4 percent
  • Global  Threat Reduction Initiative would decline 6.4 percent
  • Legacy  Contractor Pensions would increase 11.1 percent

Naval  Reactors: (page 66)

Total  Naval Reactors program funding would increase 0.8 percent or $8.6 million from  $1,080.0 million to 1,088.6 million.

Office  of the Administrator: (page 68)

Total  Office of the Administrator program funding would increase 0.3 percent or $1.3  million from $410.0 million to $411.3 million.

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