SUMMARY OF INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR MATERIALS MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL SAFEGUARDS: GAS CENTRIFUGE ENRICHMENT PLANT SAFEGUARDS 2007–2011

Year
2011
Author(s)
J. Michael Whitaker - Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Brian Boyer - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Dunbar Lockwood - National Nuclear Security Administration
Tim Margrave - University of Tennessee
Abstract
Beginning in 2007, the International Safeguards Division of the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM) has been sponsoring special sessions on gas centrifuge enrichment plant (GCEP) safeguards at the annual meetings. These sessions have focused on potential approaches and technologies being investigated to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of international safeguards as implemented by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). A total of 77 papers by 171 authors, coauthors, and contributors from 36 organizations have been presented in 11 separate sessions as well as in a panel discussion at the end of each year’s last session. Key topics within this field include (1) concepts, techniques, and approaches; (2) surveillance; (3) GCEP production analysis; (4) UF6 cylinder tracking and monitoring; and (5) process monitoring at GCEPs. A majority of the methods, techniques, and technologies proposed and evaluated in the paper submissions address the importance of reducing costs in monetary and man-hour requirements for the IAEA inspectorate. This paper summarizes the technical presentations from the INMM special sessions with an emphasis on the accomplishments to date and advances experienced as a result of open dialogue provided by the INMM format.