Photos: Aging nuclear arsenal grows ever more costly

Safety Culture Program Manager Paul Wasilko demonstrates how a communication system at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Nuclear equipment sits idle as museum pieces at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Idle nuclear equipment in a museum space at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

A nuclear warhead on display as a museum piece at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The Calutron Beta-3 control room stands as a museum piece at the Y-12 National Security Complex.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

A detail of a contol panel in the Calutron control room on display at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tenn.

A detail of a nuclear control panel on display as a museum piece at the Y-12 National Security Complex.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Oak Ridge’s Building 92043, where enriched uranium was separated during the Manhattan Project, has been designated a Nuclear Historic Landmark by the American Nuclear Society.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Oak Ridge’s Building 9212, at upper left, is the main production area for the thermonuclear assembly of hydrogen bombs. A plan to replace it was scrapped recently for cost reasons.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Building 92043 at Oak Ridge, where enriched uranium was separated during the Manhattan Project.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Rusty pipes and dilapidated structures stand throughout the aging Y-12 National Security Complex.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Building 92043, where enriched uranium was separated.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Ralph Hutchison is with the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, which aims to stop nuclear weapons production at the Y-12 complex in Tennessee.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Y-12 National Security Complex security police officers use virtual reality screens as a method of training. Security expenses have contributed to climbing costs at the nation’s nuclear labs.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Dusty and rusted equipment sits idle at the Y-12 National Security Complex.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)