The Nation - News from April 28, 1989

Energy Secretary James D. Watkins said he has moved back the timetable for resuming production of a scarce gas needed to make nuclear warheads. He assured Congress the delay would not weaken the national defense. Watkins said he hoped to restart production at the Savannah River reactors, near Aiken, S.C., early in 1990. The three reactors, which have been plagued by safety and technical flaws, are the nation’s only source of tritium, a perishable, radioactive gas that boosts the explosive power of warheads. More retraining of reactor operators and a fuller assessment of other safety issues are needed before the plant can be allowed to resume operation.