Transitioning of Selected Licensed Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities in the United States of America to/from International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards— U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Licensed fuel cycle facilities in the United States of America (U.S.) are inspected by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and report source and special nuclear material related information to the Nuclear Materials Management and Safeguards System (NMMSS). NRC licensed facilities may be selected by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the application of IAEA safeguards under either the principal text of the US-IAEA Safeguards Agreement for the Application of Safeguards in the U.S. or the Initial Protocol thereto (INFCIRC/288). At that time, the selected facility may experience changes to certain aspects of NRC domestic safeguards oversight and operator activities. The transition from NRC domestic safeguards alone to both domestic and international safeguards is challenging, but careful integration of the domestic nuclear material control and accounting requirements described in 10 CFR 74 and international requirements of 10 CFR 75 will normally lessen the operational impact of matching requirements of a particular facility type. Termination of international safeguards at a facility selected for IAEA safeguards occurs when the IAEA elects to cease safeguards activities by formally notifying the U.S. of deselection. This paper will describe transitioning activities that adequately address the sequence of events necessary to meet obligations of both the U.S. Government and the licensed facility when selected or deselected by the IAEA.