February 24, 2004
Reestablishment of Enriched Uranium Operations at the Y-12 National Security Complex
The Department of Energy's enriched uranium operations recover and purify uranium for use in nuclear weapons. These operations - including wet chemistry, oxide conversion reduction, casting, machining and forming, and salvage treatment - are critical to support national security as well as other Department missions. The Y-12 National Security Complex, operated by the National Nuclear Security Administration, is the only U.S. facility that possesses these capabilities. In the early 1900's, and accidental release of other safety fluoride resulted in a shutdown of the oxide conversion process. As a result of other safety concerns, essentially all of the remaining processes at the Y-12 facility were shut down as well.