RMTC Support of the Rosatom Monitoring Project of Nuclaer Facilities

The role of the Russian Methodological and Training Centre (RMTC) at the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (IPPE) of Obninsk (RF) is to support the implementation of the Rosatom Monitoring as part of the project’s management team and to provide training in nuclear material control and accountability (MC&A) to Rosatom and Rostechnadzor specialists. The decision to create the Rosatom Monitoring Project (hereinafter the “Project”) was made at the 5th Meeting of the U.S.-Russian Joint Coordination Committee (JCC-5) for Cooperation in Material Protection, Control and Accounting (MPC&A) in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on August 3–5, 2004. The Project was created within the Russian Federation Inspection Project (RFIP). The key task of the Project is to improve management and effectiveness in the area of MPC&A. The Project systematizes the Rosatom monitoring process in order to enhance Rosatom management and the effectiveness of physical protection, accounting and control of nuclear materials. The Project also supports the RMTC/IPPE in training Rosatom MPC&A inspectors. RMTC now offers three courses for MC&A experts who inspect Rosatom facilities: “Basic Inspection Course”, “Procedures of Nuclear Material Accountability Monitoring at Nuclear Sites”, and “Procedures of Nuclear Material Control Monitoring at Nuclear Sites.” Prior to course development, a Training Program Needs Assessment for Rosatom MC&A inspectors was performed. The analysis identified positions responsible for performing Agency-level monitoring and positions important for Site self-assessments. For the purpose of sharing and reviewing monitoring efforts and inspector experiences, the RMTC prepared and conducted a one week MC&A workshop for U.S. Representatives and Rosatom specialists. The experience and resultes of targeted inspections at Rosatom sites over the past year were presented, reviewed and discussed. This INMM conference paper describes the results of the RMTC activities and future plans in support of facility MC&A self-assessments.