THE EVOLUTION OF REPROCESSING SAFEGUARDS

The implementation of international safeguards in reprocessing facilities within non - nuclear weapon states has been a significant challenge for both the IAEA and the State/operator since the 1970s. In 1969 and early 1970s, the US volunteered a number of t heir reprocessing plants and labs as ‘test and learn’ facilities. The early implementation of international safeguards started with smaller pilot plants in Europe and Japan. A reprocessing plant at Tarapur, India was also put under international safeguards within their INFCIRC 66 agreement. Each facility, although relatively small, presented its own unique challenges from facility design issues, sampling and measurement technologies, to travel and access restrictions. The next 30 years was a time of techno logy developments, refinement of IAEA safeguards approaches and methodologies, and improved inspector training. This early work set the stage for the IAEA’s biggest challenge – the implementation of international safeguards in a commercial scale reprocess ing plant. That plant being the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant (RRP) in Japan. This paper will look at the lessons learned from the early experiences in reprocessing safeguards, how these challenges evolved into strengthened safeguards approaches, and what the demands may be for international safeguards in future reprocessing plants.