According to plant officials, Y-12 last year dismantled more weapon parts than at any time in the past quarter-century. Because of classification rules, however, they can't say how many parts were dismantled or provide even a ballpark estimate of how big a backlog of Cold War bomb components is still waiting to be taken apart.
That's the way it is at the Oak Ridge plant, known officially as the Y-12 National Security Complex.
Despite the limitations, senior officials are willing - even eager - to talk about the post-Cold War dismantlement program that's taken on added momentum in the Obama administration.
