Do you want more nuclear weapons?
What Complex Transformation Means To You:
Program Overview l What is a SPEIS?
The U.S. government has proposed a plan called Complex Transformation, which would refurbish the U.S. Nuclear Weapons Complex, the eight sites around the country that produce and maintain our nuclear weapons.
On January 11, 2008, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the semi-autonomous nuclear weapons agency within the Department of Energy (DOE), introduced a proposal named "Complex Transformation." It lays out the agency’s vision for the future of US nuclear weapons production, research, and testing complex.
It is fundamentally about securing the future of nuclear weapons production and research by revamping infrastructure and adding capabilities across the complex. If allowed to move forward, this new Bombplex will design new nuclear weapons and resume industrial-scale bomb production. This vision, “Complex Transformation," was formerly known as “Complex 2030.”
The NNSA has collected two rounds of public comment on their proposal, and is now in the process of preparing a final document. In both rounds the public has made an unpresidented number of comments, many asking for a fundementally different approach, embracing the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty and working twords the elimination of nuclear weapons.
For more information:
• Analysis of the Proposal • NNSA Complex Transformation documents •
• Read Public Comment •
What is a SPEIS?
The complex Transformation proposal document is a Draft Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (SPEIS), as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
Under NEPA, DOE is required to analyze the environmental and socio economic impacts of any proposed actions. The NEPA processes allows for public participation, by including two public comment periods.
Scoping period. The first comment period is before the full plan has been written. DOE releases a notice of intent in which it suggests its plan as well as alternatives.
This scoping period” is finished. DOE received over 33,000 comments in opposition to their plan – a record breaking number of comments!
Comment period. DOE releases a draft document, which analyzes their proposal as well as alternatives, and receives a second round of comments.
Comment period is now closed. Click here to read the public comment posted on DOE's site.
Final Document. Once comment period closes, DOE reviews all public comment and finalize its document. DOE has announced that the final document will be completed in August 2008. However, this deadline is not firm, and will likely slip.
Record of Decision: The Secretary of Energy then issues a Record of Decision, which determines the plans. DOE has announced that the ROD is will be released in September of 2008.