SAFEGUARDS PLAN FOR AN MFC-BASED OCRWM PROGRAM

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management (OCRWM) is responsible for disposing of the nation's high-level radioactive waste. Currently, the DOE plans to use multipurpose canisters (MFCs) to containerize commercial spent nuclear fuel (SNF) to be handled by the system. To achieve its security objectives, OCRWM plans to institute a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)- approved safeguards program. Since the facilities may be subject to selection for International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections, the safeguards program also addresses the requirements of the IAEA's Annex D \"Special Criteria for Difficult-to- Access Fuel Items.\" While continuity of knowledge and item accountability are the keystones of the material control and accountability program, the safeguards program provides for the containment and surveillance (C&S) of the nuclear material. The OCRWM safeguards program accomplishes its C&S objectives by combining a constant surveillance program with a physical security system that protects the SNF from diversion, theft. radiological sabotage, and unauthorized access. With an MFC-based system, the canisters of SNF are housed in large robust casks. These casks are kept under constant surveillance within a protected area surrounded by security barriers monitored by an intrusion detection system (IDS). When implemented, this program will provide OCRWM facilities with comprehensive safeguards to protect the public health and safety while complying with NRC and IAEA requirements.