Improving MC&A Oversight in Russia by Implementing Measurement and Training Programs

As the Russian State regulatory agency responsible for oversight of nuclear material control and accounting (MC&A), Gosatomnadzor of Russia (GAN) determines the status of the Material Control and Accounting (MC&A) programs at Russian facilities. Last year, GAN developed and implemented their Nuclear Material Measurement Program Plan which documents current non-destructive assay (NDA) measurement capability in all regions of GAN; provides justification for upgrades to equipment, procedures and training; and defines the inspector-facility operator interface as it relates to NDA measurement equipment use. This Program Plan has helped to give the GAN inspection measurements more legal and official status as an oversight tool, and has also helped to improve other GAN MC&A oversight activities. These improvements include developing a tamper-indicating device (TID) program, conducting NDA workshops at specific Russian nuclear facilities to better train MC&A inspectors, and developing training evaluation programs. The Program Plan is an important tool to address the GAN role in oversight of the Russian Federal Information System nuclear material database. This paper describes the feedback received from the GAN Regional offices on the implementation of the Program Plan during its first year in operation and how the Program Plan has affected other GAN inspection activities to improve MC&A oversight.