 The U.S. and Subcritical Nuclear Testing
As expressed in its Preamble, preventing further nuclear weapons development and advancing the cause of nuclear disarmament is the clear aim of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). The US, Russia, and other Nuclear Weapons States are continuing nuclear weapons research and development using stockpile stewardship technologies including "subcritical" explosive underground tests involving plutonium. Subcritical nuclear tests are not considered full nuclear tests because they do not achieve a self-sustained chain reaction. However, the tests do involve high explosives blown up with fissile material (usually plutonium). Sophisticated equipment record data from the test that is later fed into computers. Although not full nuclear weapons tests, subcritical testing violates the heart and spirit of the CTBT. The US and Russia claim that subcritical tests are needed to maintain the safety and reliability of their nuclear stockpiles.
9/24/96 US President Clinton signs the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
10/8/96 The US Department of Energy announces it will conduct subcritical
tests at Nevada Test Site.
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Nuclear Weapons 
