DATE=12/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243431
TITLE=NUKE TRITIUM DECISION (L-ONLY) (CQ)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON  
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 


INTRO: THE U-S GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WILL RESUME MAKING A KEY 
INGREDIENT FOR ADVANCED NUCLEAR WEAPONS SOON, IN SPITE OF ITS 
EFFORTS TO PERSUADE OTHER NATIONS TO STOP WEAPONS PRODUCTION. 
TUESDAY, THE U-S GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED A NEW CONTRACT TO PRODUCE 
TRITIUM, A RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPE OF HYDROGEN, IN A CIVILIAN-RUN 
NUCLEAR REACTOR. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM WASHINGTON.

TEXT:  NUCLEAR WEAPONS EXPERTS AT THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 
SAY WITHOUT TRITIUM, U-S NUCLEAR WEAPONS WILL  NOT  BE AS 
POWERFUL AS THEIR DESIGNERS INTENDED.  BUT TRITIUM DECAYS AT A 
RATE OF ABOUT FIVE PERCENT PER YEAR, SO IT HAS TO BE REPLACED 
PERIODICALLY.  THE UNITED STATES HAS  NOT  PRODUCED TRITIUM SINCE
1988, MAKING SOME EXPERTS WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE RELIABILITY OF 
U-S WEAPONS.

ON TUESDAY, ENERGY SECRETARY BILL RICHARDSON PICKED 
COMMERCIAL-STYLE NUCLEAR REACTORS IN TENNESSEE [THE T-V-A] TO 
PRODUCE THE RADIOACTIVE GAS.  HE REJECTED THE ALTERNATIVE OF 
BUILDING A SEPARATE NEW FACILITY TO HANDLE THE MILITARY TASK AS 
TOO EXPENSIVE.

                     /// RICIARDSON ACT ///

         WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TRITIUM WHEN WE NEED IT, BUT SINCE 
         WE WILL ONLY PAY FOR WHAT WE NEED WHEN WE NEED IT, THIS 
         OPTION WILL GIVE US THE FLEXIBILITY TO DEFER PRODUCTION 
         IF WE CONCLUDE [ARMS REDUCTION TREATIES SUCH AS] "START 
         TWO" AND BEYOND.

                         /// END ACT ///

DEFENSE EXPERTS SAY EVEN IF THE "START TWO" [STRATEGIC ARMS 
REDUCTION] TREATY GETS FINAL APPROVAL BY BOTH THE UNITED STATES 
AND RUSSIA, THE THOUSANDS OF WEAPONS THAT REMAIN WILL STILL NEED 
TRITIUM.

SOME ARMS-CONTROL ADVOCATES, SUCH AS TOM COLLINA OF THE UNION OF 
CONCERNED SCIENTISTS, SAY USING A CIVILIAN REACTOR FOR MILITARY  
PURPOSES IS ECONOMICAL AND LEGAL -- BUT FOOLISH.  MR. COLLINA 
ARGUES MIXING CIVILIAN AND MILITARY NUCLEAR PROGRAMS WILL SET 
BACK U-S EFFORTS TO PERSUADE OTHER NATIONS TO FOREGO NUCLEAR 
WEAPONS, AND MAKE IT MORE COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT FOR EXPERTS TO 
WATCH NUCLEAR PROGRAMS IN OTHER NATIONS.

                       /// COLLINA ACT ///

         WHILE THIS IS CHEAPER, IT SETS A BAD EXAMPLE OF USING 
         CIVILIAN REACTORS FOR NUCLEAR-WEAPONS PURPOSES.

                         /// END ACT ///

MR. COLLINA SAYS RUSSIA WILL EVENTUALLY APPROVE "START TWO" AND 
OTHER ARMS-REDUCTION TREATIES, TAKING MANY NUCLEAR WEAPONS OUT OF
SERVICE AND MAKING PLENTY OF TRITIUM AVAILABLE TO RECYCLE INTO 
THE REMAINING WEAPONS.  HE SAYS RESUMING TRITIUM PRODUCTION NOW 
IS PROBABLY PREMATURE, BUT ENERGY SECRETARY BILL RICHARDSON SAYS 
U-S LAW REQUIRES HIM TO MAKE SOME KIND OF DECISION ON TRITIUM BY 
THE END OF THIS YEAR.  HE SAYS USING AN EXISTING COMMERICAL 
REACTOR MEANS U-S TAXPAYERS WILL  NOT  GET STUCK WITH A 
MULTI-BILLION-DOLLAR BILL FOR AN UN-NEEDED NUCLEAR PLANT, IF ARMS
REDUCTION TREATIES ARE EVENTUALLY SUCCESSFUL.

MEANTIME, IN MOSCOW, RUSSIAN LAWMAKERS HAVE ONCE AGAIN PUT OFF 
DEBATE ON THE "START TWO" STRATEGIC ARMS REDUCTION TREATY.  
(SIGNED)

NEB/JR/WDC 

22-Dec-98 5:49 PM EST (2249 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.