October 3, 2017 Andrew Weston-Dawkes Director, Office of Classification US Department of Energy Dear Dr. Weston-Dawkes: This is a proposal for declassification pursuant to 10 C.F.R. 1045.20 regarding information classified under the Atomic Energy Act. We request that the Department of Energy (and the Department of Defense) authorize the declassification of the size of the U.S. nuclear stockpile and the number of weapons dismantled as of the end of Fiscal Year 2017. As you know, the Departments of Energy and Defense have previously declassified such information for each fiscal year through FY 2016. We are now requesting that similar information be disclosed for the fiscal year that has just concluded. The reasons for the proposed declassification are the same as the reasons for the Department's previous declassification of stockpile information: Nuclear transparency can strengthen non-proliferation efforts, and can lay a foundation for future arms control efforts. Furthermore, as a matter of principle, information should remain classified only when doing so serves a valid and compelling national security purpose. We suggest that continued classification of the size of the nuclear stockpile does not meet that criterion. We therefore request that the Department consider declassifying this information, as provided in 10 C.F.R. 1045.20. Thank you for your consideration. Steven Aftergood _____________________ Steven Aftergood Project on Government Secrecy Federation of American Scientists 1725 DeSales Street NW, Suite 600 Washington, DC 20036 email: [email protected] voice: (202)454-4691