Abstract The development of fusion as a future energy alternative continues to be a matter of international importance. Research on controlled thermonuclear fusion began in the 1950s, but the commercial application of this technology may be as far away as 2020 or longer. However, in the 1990s, both in Europe and the United States, experiments are scheduled to demonstrate energy breakeven with about 30 MW of fusion power, and international planning and conceptual design are now under way for a 1,000-MW ignition experiment to begin operation at the end of the 1990's. With the final breakeven experimental campaigns, the facilities and operations will undertake a limited nuclear transition as the machines are fueled with small quantities of tritium. Fusion reactions will activate structures, and additional shielding and diagnostic hardening will be required. The future ignition facility will be as large and as costly and will require similar nuclear considerations to a full-scale nuclear fission power plant. ...