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Lab Moves Forward with NIF's Plutonium Plans

Sunday, December 14, 2014
Posted by Scott Yundt

Livermore Lab recently released a letter to Congress announcing its plan to use plutonium in the National Ignition Facility beginning in late January 2015. Tri-Valley CAREs remains opposed to this proliferation provocative nuclear weapons work and is evaluating various strategies to oppose this development while we await a public version of the letter to Congress. Stay tuned for more.

Click here to read an article in the Contra Costa Times that interviews Tri-Valley CAREs on this issue.


Citizen's Watch Newsletter November/December 2014

Thursday, December 4, 2014
Posted by Scott Yundt

Read Online

Download the PDF

The November/December 2014 edition of Tri-Valley CAREs' newsletter, Citizen's Watch, is now ready for you to enjoy. Click into the PDF link, and you will find:

  • Major Victory! - Plutonium Pit Shipments a No-Go Page 1

  • Tri-Valley CAREs Called to Vienna - Major Conference on Impacts of Nuclear Weapons Page 4

  • We are Appealing - Why You Should Contribute to Tri-Valley CAREs Insert

  • Beryllium Problem - More Employees Affected Page 3

  • Plutonium In the NIF - Lab Plans Will Increase Pollution Page 1

  • Print Bites - Read "All the News that Fits to Print." Page 2

  • Click here to download the PDF.


Holiday Party on December 9th

Updated: Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Posted by Marylia Kelley

This year, our annual party will be extra special because we will be screening and awarding the top three videos submitted to our Youth Video Contest. Awardees will be present. This is a great time to socialize and chat with Tri-Valley CAREs staff, board and members. There will be tons of great food and drink, some music and the brief screening of winning youth videos. Join us!


2014 Youth Video Contest: Winning Videos Announced

Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Posted by Scott Yundt

There were many excellent submissions to this year's Youth Video Contest. Our judges faced the difficult challenge of picking the top three submissions.

Our first place video came from Erin Vistnes and Hayden King...

Our second place video came from Lauren Tabor...

Our third place video came from Owen Carlson...

Thanks to all who submitted and be sure to attend our December 9th party at the Livermore Library where the winners will receive their awards.


Sick Worker Support Group

Monday, November 17, 2014
Posted by Scott Yundt

Tri-Valley CAREs facilitates this bi-annual meeting. Current and former Department of Energy nuclear weapons workers (including employees, contractors and subcontactors) made sick by on-the-job exposures are invited to come and network. Our focus is the Energy Employee Occupation Illness Compensation Program and other services availble to sick workers. Families and friends are welcome too.

Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2014  12 - 1 PM

Location: Livermore Public Library 1188 South Livermore Ave. Community Room A
More Info: (925) 443-7148

  • Click to read our Fall 2014 - Sick Worker Support Group Newsletter


  • Tri-Valley CAREs Invited to Vienna

    Monday, November 17, 2014
    Posted by Scott Yundt

    On December 5, Tri-Valley CAREs Executive Director, Marylia Kelley, will speak on Tri-Valley CAREs' behalf at a public forum with the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms and the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation about the #NuclearZero Lawsuits brought by the Republic of the Marshall Islands against the Nuclear Weapons States for their failure to disarm as required by the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Kelley will speak about the #NuclearZero litigation underway in the U.S. federal court. The forum will feature many speakers, including Judge Christopher Weeramantry who was Vice-President of the International Court of Justice when, in 1996, it ruled on the illegality of the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. The forum is being held in conjunction with the Vienna Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons., hosted by the government of Austria, which Kelley will also attend. We are honored to be part of these historic events and will post updates regularly. Stay Tuned!

    Click here to read more about the conference...


    LA Times - Aging Nuclear Arsenal Grows Ever More Costly

    Friday, November 14, 2014
    Posted by Marylia Kelley

    The proposed cost of the U.S. nuclear weapons "modernization" program is estimated at $1 Trillion. Here, the LA Times takes a look at some of the costs. The article contains an especially good quote from Dr. Roger Logan, the former head of Directed Stockpile Work at Livermore Lab and a valued and longstanding friend of Tri-Valley CAREs. Read on...

    "The source of some of those costs: skyrocketing profits for contractors, increased security costs for vulnerable facilities and massive investments in projects that were later canceled or postponed.

    'We are not getting enough for what we are spending, and we are spending more than what we need,' said Roger Logan, a senior nuclear scientist who retired in 2007 from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. 'The whole system has failed us'."

    Click here to read more about the article...


    Report Out: California Enviro Justice Coalition Conference

    Tuesday, November 11, 2014
    Posted by Erin Vistnes

    Left to Right: Erin Vistnes (TVC Intern), Pam Richard (TVC Board President), Hayden King (TVC Intern).

    On Saturday, November 8th, the first meeting of the California Environmental Justice was held in Kettleman City, California. 48 groups from around the state gathered to discuss the health of our environment and take action to bring about change in government policies negatively affecting our communities. Great strides were made at this conference and the resolutions passed will hopefully serve as excellent starting points for future collaboration on the pressing issue of environmental health.

    Click here for more...

    Click here to read the California Environmental Justice Coalition's mission statement. We are proud to be among the founding member groups.


    2014 Youth Video Contest: Submissions Due Oct. 31st

    Updated: October 8, 2014
    Posted by Scott Yundt

    Click here for more...

    Click here to join the event on Facebook and receive updates...

    Click here for our press release...


    Cal Environmental Justice Coalition Founding Conference

    Tuesday, September 30, 2014
    Posted by Marylia Kelley

    Our Board President, Pam Richard, will be representing Tri-Valley CAREs at this inaugural conference. Click here to read the California Environmental Justice Coalition's mission statement. We are proud to be among the founding member groups.


    FOIA Lawsuit Victory

    Wednesday, September 24, 2014
    Posted by Scott Yundt

    Since June of 2013, Tri-Valley CAREs has been litigating the National Nuclear Security Administration and Department of Energy's failure to provide documents in response to five of our Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Requests. FOIA requires government agencies to respond to requests in 20 days, but these requests had been pending for two to three years. In response to Tri-Valley CAREs' litigation, all five requests were responded to with meaningful documents and the government agreed to cover the expense of litigation.

    Click here for more...


    Community Meets on Lab Cleanup

    Updated: Wednesday, September 24, 2014
    Posted by Marylia Kelley

    On Thursday, September 18th, Tri-Valley CAREs organized a meeting on the state of Livermore Lab's Superfund Cleanup from the community perspective. Participants gathered at the Livermore Public Library to hear from Environmental Scientist Peter Strauss (see link below for his talking points), Executive Director Marylia Kelley, and Staff Attorney Scott Yundt. Tri-Valley CAREs distributed its new report, The State of the Superfund.

    Topics included details of the Superfund law, hazardous waste management, current cleanup technologies, and why Livermore Lab's broken public participation program imperils critical progress on cleanup.

    Click here to download the Media Advisory about the event.

    Click here to download the State of the Superfund Report.

    Click here to download Marylia Kelley's opening remarks, background, and definitions.

    Click here to download Scott Yundt's Talking Points on the Hazardous Waste Permit Renewal.

    Click here to download Peter Strauss' Talking Points on the State of the Superfund Cleanup.

    Click here to download the Community Action Plan discussed at the meeting.

    Haga clic aqu� para ver esta informaci�n en Espa�ol.


    Nuclear Weapons in the New York Times

    Tuesday, September 23, 2014
    Posted by Marylia Kelley

    The front page of the New York Times recently encapsulated the social, economic, moral and ecological crises of our age with side by side stories about global climate change and U.S. plans to spend $1 trillion on new nuclear weapons and bomb plants, including Livermore Lab.

    U.S. Ramping Up Major Renewal in Nuclear Arms details a "nationwide wave of atomic revitalization" that includes "renovated plants that Mr. Obama has approved," which could, in the future, "let the arsenal expand rapidly." The article goes on to discuss new warheads and carriers (subs, missiles and planes) and the studies that show a trillion dollar price tag over the next 30 years.

    Click here for more...

    Click here to read the initial NYT article, "U.S. Ramping Up Major Renewal in Nuclear Arms."

    Click here to read the Editorial, "Backsliding on Nuclear Promises."


    Citizen's Watch Newsletter Fall 2014

    Monday, September 15, 2014
    Posted by Scott Yundt

    Read Online

    Download the PDF

    The Fall 2014 edition of Tri-Valley CAREs' newsletter, Citizen's Watch, is now ready for you to enjoy. Click into the PDF link, and you will find:

    • Speak Out - Nuclear Pollution and the Power of Our Voices Page 1

    • Supporting the Marshall Islands - Calling for Disarmament Page 4

    • Save the Date - Holiday Party - Dec. 9 Insert

    • Special Cleanup Meeting - Sept. 18th Insert

    • Our Strategy - Strategic Planning Report Page 3

    • Print Bites - Read "All the News that Fits to Print." August Action Report out, Commission to Review Energy Labs, and a New Environmental Justice Coalition Page 2

    • Click here to download the PDF.


      Strategic Planning Report Out

      Wednesday, August 27, 2014
      Posted by Scott Yundt

      Tri-Valley CAREs' board of directors, staff, and members, new and old, gathered on Saturday, August 23rd to conduct our annual strategic planning retreat. Two skilled facilitators led us through a number of successful exercises to help us focus and plan the program for the coming year.

      Click here to see our strategic planning report with our 2014-2015 priorities...


    TVC Supports Marshall Islands Lawsuit Against US with Legal Brief

    Friday, August 22, 2014
    Posted by Scott Yundt

    The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) yesterday continued its efforts to compel the United States government to comply with its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), asking a Federal Court judge to reject the U.S. government's claim that the treaty cannot be enforced.

    On April 24, 2014, the Marshall Islands filed a lawsuit in U.S. Federal Court, alleging the United States has violated its moral and legal obligations under the NPT by refusing to negotiate in good faith toward complete nuclear disarmament.

    Tri-Valley CAREs was called upon to file an Amicus Curiae brief regarding the proper venue in federal court. The RMI wishes to have the case heard in the Northern District of California, home to significant nuclear weapons research and development at Livermore Lab. However, the Government's Motion to Dismiss alleged that the nuclear weapons work at the Lab was only tangentially related to NPT compliance and argued that the case should be dismissed for lack of venue. Tri-Valley CAREs' brief describes the significant nuclear weapons work being done at Livermore and the legal basis for maintaining venue in the Northern District of California as preferred by the RMI.

    Click here to read more...

    Click here to read the Complaint filed by the RMI in United States District Court.

    Click here to read the Government's Motion to Dismiss

    Click here to read the RMI's Opposition to the Government's Motion to Dismiss

    Click here to read Tri-Valley CAREs Amicus Brief


    "Failure To Disarm" Action in Livermore - Aug 6, 2014

    Thursday, August 7 2014
    Updated by Scott Yundt

    30 non-violent protestors were arrested in front of Livermore lab on the 69th Anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. This year's events included a rally, march and direct action on the morning of Wednesday, August 6th. This year's theme, "Failure To Disarm: Holding Our Government Accountable" pointed out ongoing nuclear weapon "modernization" programs happening at Livermore Lab and elsewhere in violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Attendees stood in silence at the time of the bombing and heard inspiring talks on how we can make our government accountable.

    Click here to read the program for the event.

    Click here and here to see additional photos of the event.

    Click here for mulitiple video excerpts from the event and here to see full video footage of the event.

    Click here to download the Hiroshima Action flier...

    Click here to read Scott Yundt's rally talk from August 6th.

    Click here to read Rick Wayman's rally talk from August 6th.

    Click here to read Jackie Cabasso's rally talk from August 6th.

    Click here to read Chizu Hamada's rally talk from August 6th.

    Click here to read Webb Mealy's remarks at the gate from August 6th.

    Click here for press info...

    Click here to read a Contra Costa Times article about the event.


    LANL Non-Proliferation Expert Calls for Disarmament - Gets Fired

    Wednesday, July 31, 2014
    Posted by Jessica Garcia

    James Doyle, a 17-year Non-Proliferation Specialist at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) in New Mexico, wrote a thought-provoking piece back in February 2013 titled "Why Eliminate Nuclear Weapons?" His article, written for a London-based journal, supports the Obama administrations goals of a nuclear weapons-free future through an analysis of the political theories surrounding nuclear deterrence. The price of publication? His job.

    Unbeknownst to Mr. Doyle, his employment at LANL seemingly required that his publicly expressed opinions support the Lab and the Energy Department's broad nuclear arms agenda, rather than the President's disarmament agenda. This case sends a message to employees across the nuclear weapons enterprise (Livermore Lab included) that they do not share in the First Amendment Right to Freedom of Speech when it comes to nuclear weapons policy.

    Click here to read more...

    Click here to read Mr. Doyle's article "Why Eliminate Nuclear Weapons?"

    Click here to read a story about Mr. Doyle's ordeal by The Center for Public Integrity.


    Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Nuclear Weapons

    Tuesday, July 29, 2014
    Posted by Marylia Kelley

    On Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, John Oliver delivers a brilliant (semi-NSFW) tear-down of US nuclear weapons policy.

    "If you're thinking, 'well it looks like we're lucky nothing terrible has happened,' we're actually even luckier than you think. Over the years, America has had some pretty terrifying 'almostgeddons.'" - John Oliver


    Citizen's Watch Newsletter Summer 2014

    Wednesday, July 23, 2014
    Posted by Scott Yundt

    Read Online

    Download the PDF

    The Summer 2014 edition of Tri-Valley CAREs' newsletter, Citizen's Watch, is now ready for you to enjoy. Click into the PDF link, and you will find:

    • Nukemeisters' Weapon - Long-Range Stand Off Cruise Missile and Warhead Planned Page 1

    • Aug 6 "Failure to Disarm" & Aug 5 Peace Camp - Join us to commemorate the bombing of Hiroshima & Nagasaki Insert

    • Haz Waste Alert - Livermore Lab Page 2

    • A Note From our E.D. - Support TVC! Insert

    • Got Strategy? - Our Strategic Planning Retreat Info Page 3

    • Print Bites - Read "All the News that Fits to Print." Our DC Days Report out, the MOX Fuel Fight, the B61-12 Tailkit Budget Buster, and a Bomb Plant Update Page 2

    • Click here to download the PDF.


      2014 Youth Video Contest Announced

      Wednesday, June 25, 2014
      Posted by Scott Yundt

      Click here for more...

      Click here to join the event on Facebook and receive updates...

      Click here for our press release...


    Marshall Islands Files Lawsuits Against U.S. to Enforce the NPT

    Friday, June 27, 2014
    Posted by Scott Yundt

    The Marshall Islands filed landmark cases in the International Court of Justice against all nine nuclear-armed nations claiming they have failed to comply with their obligations, under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty (NPT) and customary international law, to pursue negotiations for the worldwide elimination of nuclear weapons. Additionally, the Republic filed a companion suit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California claiming that the United States has specifically violated the NPT by conducting nuclear weapon modernization activities at Livermore Lab, among other activities.

    Click here to "Take a Stand" and support the Marshall Island's lawsuit by work by adding your name to the international "Nuclear Zero" campaign.

    Click here to read the Complaint filed in United States District Court.

    Click here to read the statement of support from the U.S. Conference of Mayors commending the Marshall Island actions.


    Commission Announced to Review the Effectiveness of the National Laboratories

    Friday, May 30, 2014
    Posted by Marylia Kelley

    Thanks to U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), a nine-member "Commission to Review the Effectiveness of the National Energy Laboratories" was established pursuant to the Fiscal Year 2014 "Omnibus" or Consolidated Appropriations Act. While the law falls short of creating a formal process to close or transition facilities similar to the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process used to shutter or realign excess Defense Dept. sites, its language enables important steps in that direction.

    Tri-Valley CAREs supports a BRAC-like process for the Dept. of Energy (DOE) and its nuclear weapons labs in particular, and will press the new Commission to take full advantage of the broad scope of its authority to recommend management, mission and structural changes in the national energy laboratory system.

    Click here to read more...

    Click here to read the DOE press release with the full list of commission members).

    The DOE Inspector General, Gregory Friedman (pictured with Tri-Valley CAREs' Staff Attorney Scott Yundt and other members of the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability) has repeatedly called for a BRAC-like process to analyze, realign, and consolidate the DOE national labs in order to avoid their continued mismanagement and excessive waste.


    Tri-Valley CAREs Speaks Out in Washington, DC

    Tuesday, May 26, 2014
    Posted by Marylia Kelley

    Tri-Valley CAREs delegation (Pictured below from Left to Right, Marylia Kelley, Scott Yundt and Gail Rieger) to the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability's 2014 DC Days has just returned home after conducting scores of meetings with Members of Congress, their staff and top Administration officials. In DC, we were joined by dozens of teams whose members live around the nation's other nuclear weapons sites.

    Click here for more...


    New Report: Billion $ Boondoggles

    Monday, May 19, 2014
    Posted by Marylia Kelley

    At a press conference on Capitol Hill, the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability released its new report, "Billion Dollar Boondoggles: Challenging the National Nuclear Security Administration's Plan to Spend More Money for Less Security." Tri-Valley CAREs made significant contributions to the report, including a section on the DOE's biggest boondoggle to date, the National Ignition Facility.

    Click here to read the report...


    Tri-Valley CAREs Heads to DC

    Wednesday, May 14, 2014
    Posted by Marylia Kelley and Bob Civiak

    Members of Tri-Valley CAREs will be in Washington, DC the week of May 18 to oppose U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear projects, including work proposed for, and being done at, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, that will waste billions in taxpayer funds, damage the environment and undermine the nation's non-proliferation goals. The group will meet with leading members of Congress, committee staffers, and top administration officials with responsibility for U. S. nuclear policies.

    Click here to read more...

    Click here to download the chart we will be using in meetings in Washington...


    Special Tri-Valley CAREs Meeting Thursday, May 15th

    Thursday, May 8, 2014
    Posted by Scott Yundt

    Join us for this very special meeting where we will hear from guest speaker Professor Robert Jacobs. He is an historian of social and cultural aspects of nuclear technologies at Hiroshima City University. He is the lead researcher for the Global Hibakusha Project, which works in radiation affected communities around the world. He will outline findings of the Global Hibakusha Project and speak about the ways in which radiation exposures can devastate communities separate from the health effects, specifically in relation to the current crisis in Fukushima. We will also hear a report back from Marylia Kelley on her trip to the Non-Proliferation Treaty meeting at the UN. Don't miss it!

    The meeting will take place on Thursday, May 15th, 7:30pm - 9:00pm at the Livermore Public Library in Community Room A. The Library is located at 1188 South Livermore Ave. Snacks and refreshments will be served. We hope you can join us.


    Citizen's Watch Newsletter Spring 2014

    Wednesday, May 7, 2014
    Posted by Scott Yundt

    Read Online

    Download the PDF

    The Spring 2014 edition of Tri-Valley CAREs' newsletter, Citizen's Watch, is now ready for you to enjoy. Click into the PDF link, and you will find:

    • Nukes in the Budget Request - More Nukes, Less Security Page 1

    • Tri-Valley CAREs Appeals - Your Support Today Can Be Doubled! Insert

    • DC Days 2014 - Tri-Valley CAREs Delegates Speak Truth to Power Page 3

    • Livermore Lab's Exploding Budget - Pie Chart Insert

    • Events & Opportunities - Check out our calendar section. Page 3

    • Print Bites - Read "All the News that Fits to Print." Including the MOX on Ice, Radiation Leak at WIPP, Plutonium Danger at NIF, Frankenbomb Out and more. Page 4

    • Click here to download the PDF.


      Site 300 Tour

      Monday, April 28, 2014
      Posted by Scott Yundt

      We recently organized a tour of Livermore Lab's High Explosives Testing Range, known as Site 300, in the foothills between Tracy and Livermore. The dozen participants included Tri-Valley CAREs members and some Tracy community members, most of whom were visiting Site 300 for the first time. Our tour focused on the ongoing "Superfund" cleanup of the site, including several former open air firing tables and dump sites heavily contaminated with depleted uranium, VOCs, tritium and other contaminants of concern.

      Tri-Valley CAREs will be engaging the affected communities in the ongoing cleanup decison-making process regarding Site 300.

      For more information read the information below...

      Haga Clic Aqui Para Sitio 300 Recorrido Informacion...

      Click here for a Power Point Presentation on the Site 300 Tour...

      Click here to see our Site 300 tour schedule...

      Haga Clic Aqui Para Sitio 300 Hoja informativa...

      Click here to read our Site 300 Fact Sheet...


    40 Arrested Protesting Nuclear Weapons at Livermore Lab

    Friday, April 18, 2014
    Posted by Scott Yundt

    Approximately 115 protestors observed Good Friday in an early morning gathering at Livermore Lab calling for an end to nuclear weapons development.

    Speakers included Kathy Kelly who reflected on our responsibility and ability to oppose our own government's violence across the world, and Tri-Valley CAREs' Executive Director, Marylia Kelley, who spoke of the ongoing nuclear weapons madness at Livermore Lab.

    40 protesters chose to risk arrest at the gates of the lab as acts of peaceful disobedience.

    Click here to read more and see pictures.


    Senator Feinstein Slams DOE Nuke Budget at Hearing

    Friday, April 11, 2014
    Posted by Scott Yundt

    On April 9th there was a Department of Energy Budget Hearing before the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, which is chaired by California Senator Dianne Feinstein. She made an opening statement that reflects her (and our) disappointment with the Agency's nuclear priorities. Here is an excerpt:

    "What is disappointing is that we had a discussion about priorities before the budget submission and you assured me that the fiscal year 2015 budget would be more balanced than prior years with a shift toward addressing the highest national security threats to this country."

    "Instead, the budget request proposes an increase of $533 million, or 7%, for nuclear weapons�the largest single increase in the Department's budget�and an increase of $282 million, or 26%, for naval reactors. It looks like the Department of Defense dictated your budget again this year."

    Click here to read more.

    If you would like to email her your appreciation for making such a strong opening statement at this important hearing, click here.


    Infographic on America's Exploding Nuclear Weapons Budget

    Tuesday, April 8, 2014
    Posted by Scott Yundt

    Check out this new infographic from the Ploughshares Fund on America's exploding nuclear weapons budget


    DOE Inspector General Audit Confirms Poor Nuclear Weapons Management Practices at NNSA

    Tuesday, April 1, 2014
    Posted by Scott Yundt

    The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is required to continuously assess and evaluate each nuclear weapon system to certify its reliability and to detect and/or anticipate any potential problems that may occur. NNSA depends on information concerning how nuclear weapons were originally built to certify reliability. Given its importance, such information is controlled through a formal configuration management (CM) process. The DOE Inspector General performed an audit of this process after receiving several allegations regarding inadequacy of the CM process. The audit confirmed the allegations finding "incomplete product definitions for NNSA nuclear weapons, and ineffective management of classified nuclear weapons drawings, a situation that could lead to unauthorized changes to the drawings." The IG also identified additional concerns with the use of nuclear weapons parts and components that did not conform to specifications.

    Click here to download the IG report.


    Fiscal Year 2015 Livermore Lab Budget Request

    Wednesday, March 26, 2014
    Posted by Scott Yundt

    As part of our ongoing analysis of the DOE NNSA's recently released Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Request to Congress, we have created a pie chart that shows Livermore Lab's requested budget for the next fiscal year. Nuclear Weapons Activities are slated to rise from 84% this year to 89%. Join Tri-Valley CAREs in advocating for more actual science and less nuclear spending!

    Click here to download the pie chart...

    Click here to see LLNL's Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Request, i.e. "Laboratry Table"


    Take Action to Cut $100 Billion of Nuclear Weapons Spending

    Monday, March 24, 2014
    Posted by Scott Yundt

    The Administration's budget request for 2015 shows that its priorities are still dangerously backwards, asking for a major funding increase for nuclear weapons while crucial domestic spending continues to be slashed.

    Thankfully, on February 27th, companion bills were introduced in the House and Senate that would each save $100 billion in the next ten years by reducing the number of nuclear weapons and cutting nuclear weapons spending. In the Senate, Sen. Ed Markey's bill is the Smarter Approach to Nuclear Expenditures (SANE) Act (S. 2070) and in the House, Rep. Earl Blumenauer has introduced the Reduce Expenditures in the Nuclear Infrastructure Now (REIN-IN) Act (H.R. 4107).

    On Tuesday, March 25th join activists around the country by calling your members of Congress to ask them to cosponsor these bills.

    Click here to read more about how you can take action ...


    Join Us in Remembering the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster

    Tuesday, March 11, 2014
    Posted by Scott Yundt

    Today marks the third anniversary of the Earthquake and Tsunami triggered Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant meltdowns, that in many ways are an ongoing disaster. Tri-Valley CAREs is joining with colleague groups from around the country and world in sponsoring and publicizing today's Unplug Nuclear Power event. Together we are asking for a boycott on all grid power today. This is especially important in Northern California where our primary power provider, PG&E, operates the only remaining nuclear power plant online in California, Diablo Canyon. We urge you to participate and you can find out more about it here.

    Additionally, today from 3-5PM there will be a demonstration that Tri-Valley CAREs is supporting outside of the Japanese Consulate in San Francisco. There will be short speeches, reading and delivery of a letter to Consul, and then a march to Union Square for a rally and more speakers. The Japanese Consulate is at 50 Fremont, St. in San Francisco. We urge you to join this effort.

    Click here to read more...


    Budget Blog #3 � An Overview of Nuclear Weapons, Nonproliferation & Cleanup Funding Request

    Tuesday, March 4, 2014
    Posted by Marylia Kelley

    Tri-Valley CAREs celebrated important budget victories in the placement of the Mixed Oxide Plutonium Fuel (MOX) program into "cold standby" and the 5-year deferment, amounting to cancellation, of the new W78/88-1 "interoperable" nuclear warhead (see dispatches #1 and #2). The overview of the entire nuclear weapons budget request is far less rosy, however.

    The "top line" request for DOE NNSA nuclear weapons activities rises to $8.3 billion, an increase of nearly $534 million, or about 7%, above the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 level, which was already far too high. Notably a major increase is requested in FY2015 for "directed stockpile work" (mostly to combine 4 versions of the B61 into a new B61-12 nuclear bomb, a risky enterprise that is neither desirable nor necessary). Additionally, the related increase in NNSA's "readiness campaign" was also attributed to the B61-12. (See pages 12 and 13 in the DOE Budget Highlights).

    Click here for more...


    Budget Blog #2 � Interoperable W78/88-1 Warhead Design Deferred 5-Years; Tri-Valley CAREs Pronounces this Livermore Lab Program "Dead"

    Tuesday, March 4, 2014
    Posted by Marylia Kelley

    Tri-Valley CAREs applauds the White House decision to defer the W78/88-1 "interoperable" nuclear warhead by at least 5-years. Further, the nuclear watchdog group declares that the Livermore Lab-led program is now "effectively dead in the water."

    The W78/88-1 Life Extension Program, as envisioned by weaponeers at Livermore Lab, would have entailed the design of a new, untested warhead "mash up" of the land-based W78 warhead, the submarine-launched W88 warhead and the core from a third design, the W87. The NNSA estimated about its cost at around $14 billion, but congressional staff and independent analysts, including at Tri-Valley CAREs, estimated its costs would meet or exceed the $28 billion mark.

    Click here to read more...

    Click here for the budget highlights.


    Budget Blog #1 � Major Victory; Mixed Oxide Fuel(MOX) Boondoggle is Put in "Cold Standby"

    Tuesday, March 4, 2014
    Posted by Marylia Kelley

    This is the first in a series of Tri-Valley CAREs' blogs from deep within the FY 2015 budget request documents for the Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

    Tri-Valley CAREs declares a major victory as the White House announces it will place the Dept. of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration's beleaguered Mixed Oxide Plutonium Fuel (MOX) program into "cold standby" as it examines other less costly alternatives for disposition of plutonium declared surplus from nuclear weapons programs.

    The MOX plant, under construction at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, has been rife with escalating costs, including a new, internal estimate rumored to top $30 billion. Tri-Valley CAREs is one of dozens of organizations across the country that has worked tirelessly over the past several years to bring accountability to the MOX program and to encourage the federal government to reopen a search for disposition alternatives that will be safer, faster and cheaper, including further analysis of the "immobilization" option.

    Click here to read more...


    Nuclear Weapons Budget: Questions for Reporters and the Public

    Monday, March 3, 2014
    Posted by Marylia Kelley

    The Department of Energy's Fiscal Year 2015 budget request for nuclear weapons will be made public on Tuesday, March 4.

    In anticipation, Tri-Valley CAREs and our allies in the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability have prepared key questions for the media and others to ask DOE on important nuclear weapons, nonproliferation and cleanup programs in the FY 2015 budget request.

    Tri-Valley CAREs asked DOE but the agency was coy about saying exactly when it would get the thousands of pages that make up the detailed budget request on-line for public scrutiny. We expect it will be posted in multi-volume PDFs after the "rollout."

    Your nuclear watchdogs here at Tri-Valley CAREs will provide same day analysis as soon as the budget becomes available, and then longer analysis and recommendations in the days to come. Check this site regularly for new information.

    Click here to read our press release the "QUESTIONS FOR THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE) FY 2015 NUCLEAR WEAPONS, REACTOR AND CLEANUP BUDGET" that we prepared in advance�


    Citizen's Watch Newsletter Winter 2014

    Wednesday, February 5, 2014
    Posted by Alison Forrest

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    Download the PDF

    The Winter 2014 edition of Tri-Valley CAREs' newsletter, Citizen's Watch, is now ready for you to enjoy. Click into the PDF link, and you will find:

    • Nukes in the Omnibus - Good News and Bad News. Page 1

    • Livermore Lab Scores Low - Management Performance Still Problematic. Insert

    • Awesome Party- Tri-Valley CAREs big 30th Anniversary bash. Page 3

    • A Thank You - To you, our Supporters. Page 2

    • Events & Opportunities - Check out our calendar section. Page 3

    • Print Bites - Read "All the News that Fits to Print." Including the Iran Deal, Y-12 Protesters, Fukushima Lawsuit, and more. Page 4 and Insert

    • Click here to download the PDF.


      Livermore Lab Managers Score Low on Performance Review

      Tuesday, February 4, 2014
      Posted by Scott Yundt

      According to the recently released Performance Evaluation Report (PER) for Livermore Lab management, covering the period from October 2012 to September 2013, LLNS was downgraded for poor "Contractor Leadership," and was given only 40% of the award. Unfortunately, the PER was unduly vague as to the specific reasons behind the low evaluation.

      Click here to read more...


      Tonight's State of the Union: A Tweeting Opportunity

      Tuesday, January 28, 2014
      Posted by Scott Yundt

      The State of the Union is a great opportunity to use social media, especially twitter, or even write a letter to the editor about what you have just heard, or wish you had heard. Because President Obama has made nuclear disarmament a rhetorical policy goal, it is important that we seize the opportunity to keep this issue on his agenda.

      Specifically, his administration should be spending less money on a gold-plated upgrade to the B-61 gravity bomb. Under current plans, this single modernization program will cost $12 billion, more than $25 million per bomb. That means each bomb will cost more than twice its weight in gold! Plus, the bombs are mostly housed in NATO countries that very likely will not want them anymore ten years from now when the modernized bombs are ready.

      If you think our money would be better spent on other priorities�

      TWEET:#SOTU #NuclearWeapons are more obsolete than ever! Ax the gold-plated #B61 and use those billions of dollars for (ENTER PROGRAM OF CHOICE HERE � e.g. education, health care, community development).

      For more advice on tweeting during tonight's address click here.


      Our Work Featured In Muste Notes...

      Friday, January 17, 2014
      Posted by Scott Yundt

      The Muste Institute granted us $1,500 in September 2012 to help mobilize against the National Nuclear Security Administration's plan to transport plutonium bomb cores to Livermore Lab. Their recent newsletter, Muste Notes, features an article about our work.

      Click here to check out the article.


      Eric Schlosser and Joseph Cirincione: Reducing the Nuclear Nightmare

      Friday, January 10, 2014
      Posted by Scott Yundt

      On Wednesday, January 8th, Joseph Cirincione, President of the Ploughshares Fund and author of the recently published book Nuclear Nightmares: Securing the World Before It's Too Late, joined Eric Schlosser, journalist and author of the recently released Command and Control, in a discussion at the San Francisco Commonwealth Club. Our staff attorney, Scott Yundt, was an invited guest at the event. The two authors provided detailed information about the dangers surrounding the storage of nuclear weapons in the United States and their proliferation globally. Particularly notable was the authors' explication of the steps needed to reduce these risks. Joe and Eric also discussed the combination of human fallibility and technological complexity and how, mixed with thousands of U.S. nuclear weapons today, it continues to pose grave dangers to all humankind.

      To listen to the audio of the Commonwealth Club event click here.


      Special Cohort Designated for Sick Workers from Sandia, California

      Thursday, January 9, 2014
      Posted by Scott Yundt

      On January 6, 2014 a class of employees from the Sandia National Laboratories-Livermore in Livermore, California, was added to the Special Exposure Cohort (SEC) under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000. Thus, all employees of the Department of Energy, its predecessor agencies, and their contractors and subcontractors who worked in any area at the Sandia National Laboratories-Livermore in Livermore, California, from October 1, 1957, through December 31, 1994, and who have contracted one of the 22 cancers that the Department of Labor has identified as being radiogenic are automatically eligible for benefits in the Special Exposure Cohort. The survivors of these employees are likewise eligible.

      If you have questions about your eligibility for compensation please contact Tri-Valley CAREs staff attorney Scott Yundt.

      Click here to see the announcement in the Federal Register.


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