The Department of Energy announced in late November 2000 that it would not restart the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF), located near Richland, Wash. The FFTF was built in 1970, designed to be a national research facility that tests advanced nuclear fuels, materials, components, systems, nuclear power plant operating and maintenance procedures, as well as active and passive reactor safety technologies. The FFTF also produced a large number of isotopes for medical and industrial uses. Dormant since 1992, the FFTF is expected to be permanently shut down.
The American Nuclear Society opposes the shutdown of the FFTF, and believes it is in the nation's best interest to restart the FFTC to meet current and expected future research and development, as well as irradiation and other service requirements.
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