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ANS calls for prompt restart of Fast Flux Test Facility

The American Nuclear Society (ANS) has issued a statement in support of restarting the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF) as soon as possible. On September 18, a letter outlining the current ANS position was sent from ANS President James Lake and ANS Immediate Past President Andy Kadak to Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson.

The letter noted that this statement of support represents a change from an earlier ANS position, outlined in a letter to Richardson in August 1999. At that time, ANS supported the restart of FFTF only on the condition that the funding did not affect other future-looking nuclear energy programs. In addition, ANS questioned the restart since there was not an integrated national research and development strategy in which the mission of FFTF was defined. ANS also had concerns about the use of isotope production as an economic justification for the restart.

As outlined in the letter of September 18, the new ANS position was shaped by many factors:
  • Continuing erosion of U.S. research reactor capability, which severely damages ability to develop technologies of the future and maintain infrastructure needed for U.S. leadership in nuclear science and technology

  • Issuance of long-term R&D plan by Nuclear Energy Research Advisory Committee (NERAC)

  • Issuance of a report by Michael Corradini of the University of Wisconsin, which identifies how national labs can interface with universities to renew student interest in the field

  • Information in the draft EIS, that FFTF is the single facility that already can
    • meet the needs of Pu238 production for the space program
    • provide isotopes for medical and industrial application
    • be used for basic research for both fast and thermal flux applications

  • The fact that FFTF can accommodate needed modifications without significant impact on performance

  • The fact that FFTF already exists and will not negatively impact the research missions of other facilities identified in the EIS

  • ANS' belief that restart of FFTF will be the low-cost alternative when compared to other options for satisfying the defined missions

  • ANS' belief that the Hanford reservation has other unique assets that could be used in support of the DOE mission of research and development and isotope production
ANS Past President Kadak stated, "Restart preparations of the FFTF should begin and the costs for maintaining the plant in a shutdown condition should be applied to restart."

Editor - Complete text of letter is attached for reference.
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The American Nuclear Society is a not-for-profit international membership society. It was established in 1954 and has a diverse membership composed of engineers, scientists, administrators, and educators. Its main objective is to promote the advancement of engineering and science related to the atomic nucleus and of allied sciences and arts.

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