A Nonproliferation Impact Assessment of the GNEP Programmatic Alternatives

DOE is preparing a Nonproliferation Impact Assessment (NPIA) for the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP), which will be publicly available with the GNEP Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS). This NPIA will consider the nonproliferation aspects of the GNEP programmatic and technical alternatives considered in the PEIS. The assessment framework is based on the Proliferation Resistance and Physical Protection (PR/PP) methodology1 and on a qualitative evaluation of policy factors. At the first level, where the details of technologies are sufficiently defined, the NPIA will address the important nonproliferation aspects of those technologies. Where details of the technologies await clarification from the proposed R&D program, the assessment will provide information on relevant factors that affect proliferation risk. At a second level, the NPIA will evaluate the GNEP programmatic alternatives against U.S. nonproliferation policy objectives. The principal objective is to establish reliable fuel services (supply and take-back) that discourage the spread of enrichment and reprocessing capabilities. Other objectives include minimizing stocks of weapons useable material, reducing proliferation and security risks associated with the materials and processes involved in reprocessing and recycling spent fuel, and using supply arrangements to enhance U.S. influence on international nonproliferation policy. This NPIA will be one of several factors considered in the DOE decisions regarding GNEP. Insertion of the nonproliferation issues at this early stage in the design of processes and system architectures is intended to help minimize the proliferation risk. The NPIA is currently undergoing the review and approval process, this paper reflects the views of the authors at the beginning of that process.