**GAO-08-593**                      Published: May 23, 2008. Publicly Released: Jun 02, 2008.                  

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## Highlights

The Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is responsible for manufacturing pits, a key component in a nuclear warhead. The department lost its ability to manufacture pits in 1989 with the closing of the Rocky Flats Plant. In 1996, the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) was directed to reestablish a pit manufacturing capability, starting with a limited number of pits for the W88 warhead. In recent years, NNSA has considered ways to increase its pit manufacturing capacity, including building a new, large-scale pit manufacturing facility. It has also proposed producing pits for the Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW). GAO was asked to determine the (1) extent to which NNSA achieved its major goals for reestablishing its pit manufacturing capability, (2) factors that currently constrain its ability to increase its pit manufacturing capacity, and (3) status of its plans for future pit manufacturing. For this review, GAO met with NNSA and LANL officials, reviewed agency documents, and visited the nuclear facility used to manufacture pits.

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## Topics

Government Operations

Agency missionsCost analysisDefense capabilitiesDesign specificationsFacility constructionFacility maintenanceIndustrial facilitiesMissile warheadsNuclear facilitiesNuclear warfareNuclear waste storageNuclear weaponsQuality controlRadioactive waste disposalRequirements definitionStandardsStandards evaluationStrategic planningWarfareWeapons industryCost estimatesProgram goals or objectives