The Material Protection Control and Accounting (MPC&A) Human Resource Management and Site Training Program at the Electrochemical Plant as Implemented through the MPC&A Sustainability Program

Joint efforts by the Electrochemical Plant (ECP) in Zelenogorsk, Russia, and the United States (US) Department of Energy (DOE) Material Protection, Control and Accounting (MPC&A) Program to upgrade high enrichment material security systems at ECP began circa 1996. The commissioning of ECP major MPC&A systems upgrades occurred in December 2004. Since that time, the US Project Team (USPT) and ECP personnel have focused jointly on upgraded MPC&A systems maintenance and operational support. At the initial stage of the operational support program, implementation was directed mainly at maintenance and replacement of non-functioning equipment, and later expanded to the long-term sustainability of all MPC&A equipment and systems. The site-wide Sustainability Program (SP) utilizes seven principal elements in defining a comprehensive approach to the prioritization of site activities in order to ensure robust MPC&A Systems operation. This paper specifically addresses the present assessment and future plans of joint USPT and Site Sustainability Working Group (SSWG) work intended to implement one of the seven sustainability elements – the MPC&A Human Resource Management (HRM) and Site Training Program. ECP has established a functioning Organization responsible for MPC&A Human Resource Management and Site Personnel Retraining and Professional Development Program. In accordance with current regulations, MPC&A personnel, once in five years as a rule, takes training at one of the leading State Corporation Rosatom training centers. As a result of completed MPC&A upgrades, large numbers of modernized equipment were commissioned, and personnel re-training on the new systems would be necessary. Therefore, within the scope of the SP, proper upgrades were implemented to the ECP Personnel Training System specifically regarding MPC&A personnel training. A material and technical training basis (simulators, training classrooms) was created for MPC&A systems and equipment utilized at the site. In addition, the process of MPC&A personnel training and professional development was arranged with the involvement of the State Corporation Rosatom’s training centers instructors and MPC&A equipment producing plants’ specialists. The expected outcome of the completed activities is to create a cost-effective dedicated training and professional development system of MPC&A personnel at ECP.