Year
2010
Abstract
The Office of Nonproliferation and International Security (NA-24) within the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Nuclear Security Administration, as part of the Next Generation Safeguards Initiative (NGSI), is investigating concepts and approaches for strengthening the application in international safeguards at gas centrifuge enrichment plants. This paper will describe current DOE-sponsored efforts at the national laboratories to evaluate (1) continuous, unattended monitoring of feed and withdrawal activities and plant accountability scales, (2) authentication of data from operator systems, (3) on-site tracking of uranium hexafluoride cylinders, and (4) nondestructive assay of process piping. The capability to efficiently analyze and evaluate the large quantities of data generated by the systems and the ability of inspectorates to use the information to drive inspection schedules and activities are also being investigated.