Establishing Safeguards and Security Technical Support Centers

The Safeguards and Security Laboratories at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) provide nuclear material measurement capabilities including equipment, materials (radiological sources), classroom environments, and subject matter experts. These facilities and staff are dedicated to supporting safeguards and security research and development, nondestructive assay (NDA) measurement programs, technology evaluations, training, and promoting measurement best practices. The primary functions are to support nuclear nonproliferation programs that improve the effectiveness of international safeguards regimes, provide a platform and integration center for coordinating nuclear detection and measurement activities, and provide safeguards and security experts committed to addressing both domestic and international needs. This paper explains how the ORNL Safeguards and Security Laboratories are used for joint collaborations that lead to the development, establishment, operation, and sustainment of technical support centers for a number of countries interested in building their capacity and capability to measure and control nuclear and radiological material. This support is provided by completing initial needs assessments for safeguards and security measurement programs, assisting with NDA laboratory implementation, providing hands-on measurement and equipment training, supporting the development of customized measurement plans, techniques, and procedures, and promoting safeguards and security culture and expertise. ORNL supports training of foreign partners via workshops and technical support that draw upon experiences with operating such a laboratory and the broader organizational structures and context that are necessary to ensure the success and sustainability of these support centers in other countries that are planning to implement or enhance their own organizational infrastructure and work procedures. As a result of these joint collaborations, the ORNL Safeguards and Security Laboratories support US programs that seek to strengthen the state systems that keep track of and control nuclear material in partner countries. Similar programs facilitate national inspection regimes and enable these countries to perform independent measurements and material characterization, as well as laboratory maintenance and sustainment.