Follow this link to skip to the main content
Home > About Us > Our Programs > Nonproliferation > Nuclear Nonproliferation Program Offices > Office of Global Threat Reduction > Remove

Remove

Removing fresh HEU from Dalat reactor in VietnamThe Nuclear and Radiological Material Removal subprogram supports the removal or disposal of excess WMD-usable nuclear and radiological materials from civilian sites worldwide.  These efforts result in permanent threat reduction because WMD-usable material theft targets are eliminated.

This subprogram includes:

  • Repatriating Russian-origin HEU fresh and spent fuel from Russian-designed research reactors worldwide to Russia.
  • Repatriating U.S.-origin HEU and LEU spent nuclear fuel from TRIGA and MTR research reactors and HEU target material to the United States
  • Addressing Gap nuclear materials by removing or verifying the disposal of vulnerable nuclear materials that are not covered under the Russian-origin and U.S.-origin nuclear remove activities.  This could include: U.S.-origin HEU beyond TRIGA, MTR, and target materials; HEU of non-U.S.- and non-Russian-origin; and separated plutonium and plutonium-bearing materials.
  • Addressing emerging threats by developing the capability to denuclearize rapidly a country and remove all of its HEU and plutonium.  This includes in-country stabilization, packaging and removal of nuclear materials through independent, self-sufficient operations and the identification and training of rapid response teams to ensure that when opportunities present themselves (e.g. Libya in 2004), the United States is able to respond quickly and efficiently. 
  • Removing Russian-origin HEU from the Czech RepublicRemoving international radiological materials by recovering and permanently disposing of excess and abandoned radiological material overseas.  This includes Russian radioisotopic thermoelectric generators (RTGs), U.S.-origin sealed sources in other countries, and other orphaned radiological materials.
  • Removing domestic radiological materials by working in cooperation with Federal, State, and local agencies, and private industry to recover and permanently dispose of excess radiological sources in the United States.


To see a video of NNSA experts performing radiation measurement, please click here.