NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION: Controls Over the Commercial Sale and Export of Tritium Can Be Improved

This report responds to February 8 and March 5, 1990, requests by Reps. Dingell and Markey that the General Accounting Office (GAO) examine the adequacy of existing controls by the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on the commercial sales and exports of tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that can be used to enhance the explosive power of nuclear weapons. The Reprsentatives expressed concern about reported losses of radioactive tritium gas from DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Subsequently, GAO met with their offices and agreed to examine the following issues: The promptness and adequacy of DOE's and NRC's investigations into the major tritium discrepancies which occurred in 1988 at 0RNL, including any investigations into the possibility that the tritium might have been stolen or diverted; The weaknesses in the management and operation of the DOE isotope sales program that led to reported tritium discrepancies and the weaknesses in existing material controls over and accounting for tritium; Whether DOE and NRC should reevaluate their positions on the level of controls required for possessing and shipping tritium or the reporting requirements imposed on tritium licensees, including the feasibility and desirability of having NRC include a determination of tritium end use in its inspections of licensees to alleviate concerns that tritium might not be used as intended.