Jason & RRW: The Plot Thickens

John Fleck sends along the original NNSA press release summarizing the Jason study suggesting that the RRW certification plan is inadequate.

NNSA — before the unclassified summary leaked — was significantly more upbeat in its press release than after:

*NNSA NEWS*
National Nuclear Security Administration
U.S. Department of Energy

For Immediate Release
September 28, 2007
Contact: NNSA Public Affairs, (202) 586-7371

Independent Scientific Review Confirms Technical Approach to RRW

WASHINGTON, D.C. — An independent panel of scientists issued a report today confirming that the Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) approach towards developing a Reliable Replacement Warhead (RRW) was proceeding with appropriate scientific principles. This report, tasked by NNSA at the request of Congress, concluded that NNSA’s current approach, including its technical, experimental and peer review processes, could determine that RRW can be certified for the stockpile without the need to conduct an underground nuclear test.

[Full text in the comments]

So let’s compare:

• NNSA: “NNSA’s current approach … could determine that RRW can be certified for the stockpile without the need to conduct an underground nuclear test.”

• JASON: “The certification plan presented needs further development.”

I dunno, I think maybe there is a little discrepancy there.