Help turn the Complex 2030 EIS process into a national referendum on the future of nuclear weapons. “Complex 2030” is the latest euphemism for the United States nuclear weapons research and manufacturing complex. The U.S. plans to spend $150 billion over the next 25 years to replace its entire nuclear arsenal with new “Reliable Replacement Warheads” by the year 2030, and to establish the capability to produce new nuclear weapons designs. Complex 2030 means “Nukes Forever!”

The only good thing about Complex 2030 is that it's visible. The proposed project is tantamount to a U.S. declaration of “nukes forever,” and a repudiation of its obligation under Article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to end the arms race “at an early date” and to negotiate “in good faith” the elimination of its nuclear arsenal. Indefinite maintenance of a huge, sophisticated nuclear arsenal, by the only country that has so far used nuclear weapons, is an unreasonable, unacceptable, and unlawful alternative. The only reasonable alternative is nuclear abolition. The United States, in compliance with its obligation under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, should commit to the elimination of nuclear weapons no later than 2030, by initiating negotiations leading to conclusion of a verifiable treaty, under strict and effective international control.

In October of 2006, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), the semi-autonomous nuclear weapons agency within the Department of Energy (DOE), announced its intention to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Complex 2030 - the latest in a long string of DOE proposals to provide environmental compliance cover for the endless refurbishment of the nuclear weapons complex. Under the National Environmental Policy Act, the initial phase of this process provides for public input into the “scope” of the environmental review, which must, by law, analyze “reasonable alternatives.” Last fall, scoping meetings on Complex 2030 were held at a dozen locations around the United States, in communities near nuclear weapons facilities and in Washington, DC. 32,000 people said “no” to nuclear weapons in oral and written comments!

Once the scope of the EIS is determined, the NNSA will release a draft study, currently anticipated in September 2007. A public comment period of at least 45 days will follow, with more public hearings. The final EIS is expected in May 2008, and the NNSA could reach a formal Record of Decision to implement Complex 2030 as early as June 2008.

According to the Notice of Intent, published in the Federal Register, the EIS will “analyze the environmental impacts from the continued transformation of the United States’ nuclear weapons complex by implementing NNSA’s vision of the complex as it would exist in 2030... as well as alternatives.” The NNSA’s preferred option includes establishment of a new bomb plant with the capacity to produce at least 125 plutonium “pits” - the cores of nuclear weapons - each year, as well as new construction or facility upgrades at all eight of its major sites currently operating. Under the so-called “No Action” alternative, NNSA would continue to operate the current nuclear weapons complex, adding greater weapons production capabilities at some of its sites. The third NNSA option, misleadingly called “Reduced Operations,” is similar to the first, except that instead of building a new plutonium facility, pit production would remain at the Los Alamos Lab in New Mexico, with output increased to 50 pits per year. All of these options would result in an increase over current nuclear weapons production capabilities. In the meantime, with or without Complex 2030, individual nuclear weapons research and production facilities are being modernized or built at nuclear weapons labs and factories across the country, and the nuclear weapons juggernaut is forging ahead.

Instructions for Precinct Workers

Anyone can be a “precinct worker.” Make a ballot box by covering a nice big cardboard box with white paper (in order to be visible), cutting a slot in the top, and marking in large letters:

Set up your ballot box at any public event or place where you might normally table and invite people to cast their votes for a world without nuclear weapons.

• Make plenty of copies of the ballot [1].

• Have the names and addresses of your Senators, Representatives and Presidential candidates available.

• Invite people to fill out ballots for each - plus one for DOE/NNSA, - fold them in thirds, address them, and “cast” their votes by dropping the completed ballots into the ballot box. You might want to have pre-printed address labels on hand. Or, you could prepare pre-addressed ballots, in different color

• Ask “voters” to contribute to cover the cost of postage. Mail completed ballots to Senators,Representatives and Presidential candidates.

• Completed ballots addressed to DOE/NNSA should be held until the public comment period for the Complex 2030 Draft EIS opens, and submitted either in person, at public hearings, or mailed in. You can also set up your ballot box at the public hearings and offer participants a chance to “vote” on the future of nuclear weapons.

• click here [1].