Implementation of the Modified Small Quantities Protocol

The Agreement between the United States of America (U.S.) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the Application of Safeguards in Connection with the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America (U.S.-IAEA Caribbean Territories Safeguards Agreement) entered into force on April 6, 1989. When the U.S.-IAEA Caribbean Territories Safeguards Agreement was signed, the U.S. and the IAEA also concluded a Small Quantities Protocol (SQP) to the agreement that held in abeyance a majority of the IAEA reporting and access requirements. An SQP is designed for States with minimal or no nuclear material and activities to alleviate the burden of IAEA safeguards. In 2005, the IAEA identified proliferation concerns associated with holding most of the requirements in abeyance through an SQP, and has since urged States with an original SQP to adopt the modified model SQP. To ensure consistent reporting under the new requirements of the modified SQP, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is initiating rulemaking to modify Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 40 “Domestic Licensing of Source Material,” Part 70 “Domestic Licensing of Special Nuclear Material,” and Part 75 “Safeguards on Nuclear Material- Implementation of US/IAEA Agreement.” The NRC has developed a robust outreach plan with the affected licensees in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, in coordination with NRC’s Region I office (located in King of Prussia, PA), in order to ensure effective and timely implementation, once the modified SQP enters into force. This paper will address the basis for adopting the modified SQP, new requirements of the modified SQP, along with outreach and implementation efforts, to date, with affected NRC licensees in the U.S. Caribbean Territories.