SASC Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities: Summary
The SASC Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities held a hearing yesterday on proliferation programs at Energy and Defense departments. Witnesses at this hearing included Madelyn Creedon, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Strategic Affairs; Kenneth Myers, Director, Defense Threat Reduction Agency; and Anne Harrington, Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, National Nuclear Security Administration.
The focus of the hearing was to address the departments’ nonproliferation programs and their FY 2013 budget requests. When asked about the potential impact of budget sequestration, Director Myers replied that the effects would be disastrous. He went on to state that it would erode the lines of defense against WMDs and limit the departments’ ability to implement U.S. arms control obligations. The testimony from the witnesses revealed that neither the Secretary of Energy nor Secretary of Defense had instructed their respective agencies to plan any budgetary contingency plans in case of possible sequestration.
Assistant Secretary Creedon discussed the proposed transition for the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program. Since the program’s inception, the primary mission focus has been securing and destroying nuclear and chemical materials in the former Soviet Republics. Recently the focus has shifted to the security of biological agents with the plan of shifting the regional focus from the former Soviet republics to South East Asia and Africa.
Deputy Administrator Harrington addressed the importance of the continued funding for the RD&D of the American Centrifuge project. She emphasized the importance of creating the capability to develop U.S. origin unobligated uranium, the commercialization of the enrichment technology, and the impact this would have on the US’s nonproliferation efforts.
The Subcommittee was very interested in the overall feasibility of the MOX fuel program in light of the continued cost overruns, delays, and the reported lack of commercial interest in MOX fuel. Deputy Administrator Harrington assured the committee that the program was on track to meet the revised date of 2017 for program operation. Addressing the issue of commercial interest, she informed the committee that the NNSA was working out a deal with the Tennessee Valley Authority and that a fuel supply agreement is anticipated by 2013. She also noted that commercial interest has increased to the point where fuel fabrication companies are now contacting the NNSA rather than vice versa.
The final question of the hearing requested information regarding the departments’ plans for addressing Syrian chemical weapon stockpiles given the possibility of regime change. The witnesses deferred their responses for the close session that followed.
