UNITED STATES ASSISTANCE TO KAZAKSTAN IN THE AREA OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SECURITY

Year
1996
Author(s)
Douglas Reilly - Los Alamos National Laboratory
J. K. Halbig - Los Alamos National Laboratory
James Sprinkle - Los Alamos National Laboratory
Wanda G. Mitchell - New Brunswick Laboratory
Margaret Barham - Martin Marietta Energy Systems Inc.
Garry Tittemore - Office of Global Threat Reduction, National Nuclear Security Administration
Charles Roche - Argonne National Laboratory
Brad Steele - pacific Northwest National Laboratory
R. Burnham - Argonne National Laboratory
J. Mason - Argonne National Laboratory
D. Olsen - Argonne National Laboratory
P. Planchon - Argonne National Laboratory
M. Shapiro - Jupiter Corporation
F. Crane - Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
R. Case - Sandia National Laboratories
A. Eras - Sandia National Laboratories
Abstract
The United States has agreed to pursue cooperative nuclear Material Protection, Control & Accounting (MPC&A) programs with the Republic of Kazakstan, As part of this cooperation, a state system of control, accounting and physical protection for nuclear materials is being developed. The U, S, Department of Energy is providing assistance at the four nuclear sites in the Republic to enhance MPC&A systems, techniques, hardware, software, procedures, and training. U.S. survey teams, which include both material control and accounting (MC&A) and physical protection experts, have visited four nuclear sites in Kazakstan. MPC&A assistance is being provided to the Ulba State Holding Company, the Institute of Atomic Energy at Kurchatov City and Ala Tau, and the Mangyshlak Atomic Energy Complex (MAEC) BN-350 nuclear power plant in Aktau. At these sites, the facility staffs and DOE technical teams are working together to identifi conditions not completely conforming with accepted international standards, as well as potential enhancements to correct such conditions, Design packages for enhancements at each of these facilities are prepared in collaboration with Kazakstani specialists. After agreement is reached on the specflcations by the U.S. and Kazakstan, MPC&A equipment is procured and installed This paper summarizes the approach to the imperative programs at these facilities, program status, and future plans.