Ensuring Nuclear Weapons are Safely Assembled, Disassembled, and Refurbished
Pantex Plant
DOE produces the Nation’s nuclear weapons at the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas. This work must be conducted with extreme discipline to prevent accidental detonation of high explosives.
Identifying Uncontrolled Hazards with Nuclear Explosive Operations
Our Work
DNFSB Recommendation 2019-1, Uncontrolled Hazard Scenarios and 10 CFR 830 Implementation at the Pantex Plant, identified inadequately controlled, high consequence hazard scenarios associated with nuclear explosive operations at the Pantex Plant. The Pantex Plant is the only location where America’s nuclear weapons can be assembled, disassembled, and refurbished.
Our Safety Impact
In response to the DNFSB’s Recommendation 2019-1, DOE addressed numerous legacy nuclear safety issues related to nuclear explosive facilities and operations at the Pantex Plant and developed additional safety controls designed to prevent accidental high explosive detonation and worker loss of life across weapon programs. This included significant infrastructure upgrades to reduce the risk to nuclear explosives within these facilities, enhancements to nuclear explosive assembly and disassembly processes, and improvements to the special tooling used in nuclear explosive operations.
Eliminating Hazards in Nuclear Explosive Facilities
Our Work
DNFSB identified an unresolved legacy condition in two nuclear explosives facilities at the Pantex Plant which contained wood-framed false ceilings. The wood-framed false ceilings required a wet pipe fire suppression system above them, resulting in a safety concern that debris could fall on nuclear explosives and cause an explosion.
Our Safety Impact
DOE replaced these ceilings as part of its implementation plan for Board Recommendation 2019-1, Uncontrolled Hazard Scenarios and 10 CFR 830 Implementation at the Pantex Plant.
Last Updated: March 23, 2026