Year
2010
Abstract
For the past two years, the U.S. National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of NA-24 has sponsored the Safeguards-by-Design Project, through which it is hoped new nuclear facilities will be designed and constructed worldwide that are more amenable to nuclear safeguards. In the course of this project it was recognized that designers and builders of commercial nuclear facilities are not always cognizant of the relevant domestic and international safeguards requirements, especially the latter as implemented by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). To help designers better understand these requirements, a report was prepared by the Safeguards-by-Design Project Team that simplified and interpreted the international nuclear safeguards requirements for the case of uranium enrichment plants. This paper summarizes the subject report, the specific safeguards requirements, their origin, and the implications for design and construction. It also briefly summarizes the established best design and operating practices that designers, builders, and operators have implemented for currently meeting these requirements. In preparing the subject report, it is recognized that the best practices are continually evolving as designers, builders, operators, and the IAEAfor meeting the safeguards requirements and objectives.