The Nation - News from Sept. 28, 1989

In a move that could further delay the production of a scarce gas needed for nuclear warheads, Energy Secretary James D. Watkins ordered additional testing of the government’s tritium reactors before they are restarted. Watkins said all three tritium-producing reactors at the Savannah River plant near Aiken, S.C., would undergo ultrasonic testing for cracks. He provided no details. His spokeswoman, Christina Sankey, said it was “too early to tell” whether the additional testing would mean a further delay in restarting the first reactor, designated K reactor. Watkins had announced Sept. 7 that low-power testing of the reactor would begin next summer.