Risk-based approaches to security at DOE nuclear weapons facilities -- new report

The U.S. Department of Energy's costs for securing its facilities that house nuclear weapons and material have increased from $550 million in 2002 to around $930 million in 2010. UNDERSTANDING AND MANAGING RISK IN SECURITY SYSTEMS FOR THE DOE NUCLEAR WEAPONS COMPLEX, a congressionally requested report from the National Research Council, examines whether risk-based approaches, including probabilistic risk assessment, could be used to improve methods for determining security requirements at these facilities.

###Advance copies of the report will be available to reporters only beginning at 10 a.m. EDT on Thursday, March 24. The report is embargoed and not for public release before 5 p.m. EDT March 24. Reporters can obtain a copy by contacting the National Academies' Office of News and Public Information at tel. 202-334-2138 or e-mail news@nas.edu.