Year
2006
Abstract
The US DOE Material Protection, Control and Accounting (MPC&A) Program and ECP have been jointly upgrading selected security-related systems that contribute to the reduction in the risk associated with the theft or diversion of weapons-usable nuclear material at the facility. As part of these upgrades, an improved computer-based accounting system has been developed and installed to replace the paper-based material control and accounting (MC&A) ledgers within the high-enriched uranium processing areas of the facility. This networked computer system, which includes approximately 20 key-measurement points (KMPs), has recently completed a set of trial operations. Trial operations of the networked MC&A computer system lasted for approximately six months. During that time, both the paper-based and computer-based accounting systems were run concurrently to ensure that the computer-based system (1) accurately reflects information historically collected in the paper-based system, (2) allows efficient administration of the system and its users, (3) includes all necessary functionality required by both ECP and its governing regulatory bodies, and (2) effectively protects MC&A-related information. The results of trial operations showed that the system operated as designed, that the system can easily handle the required transaction throughput and that the automation of data input through the 20 KMPs lowered operator-input errors. A current effort to increase the functionality of the system to include the management of tamper-indicating devices, the calculation of inventory difference, the analysis of shipper-receiver differences, the development of an assurance-visit report, the incorporation of hold-up measurements, and reporting to the Russian federal information system will allow the system to operate as the comprehensive MC&A system and help ensure rapid attestation.