Thousands of nukes eliminated

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- The U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration says it has eliminated enough highly enriched uranium to equal thousands of nuclear bombs.

The NNSA, the U.S. Department of Energy agency responsible for the nuclear weapons stockpile in the United States, announced that more than 100 tons of highly enriched uranium has successfully been eliminated. Officials estimate the eliminated fuel is equivalent to thousands of nuclear weapons, the NNSA reported.

The NNSA, as part of the highly enriched uranium disposition program, has safely removed more than 230 tons of excess weapons-grade fuel from the nuclear weapons stockpile over the last 10 years.

"Eliminating the highly enriched uranium -- enough for thousands of nuclear weapons -- ultimately prevents this material from ever again being used in a nuclear weapon," William Tobey, NNSA deputy administrator for defense nuclear non-proliferation, said in a statement.

"Disposing of highly enriched uranium is also a tangible demonstration of the U.S. commitment to draw down our nuclear arsenal in a transparent and irreversible manner."