SHORT NOTICE RANDOM INSPECTIONS AT DNLEU FUEL FABRICATION PLANTS

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is developing and implementing short notice random inspections (SNRIs) for verification of nuclear material in transfers at all DNLEU fuel fabrication and conversion plants under safeguards. It is envisioned that SNRI will be the standard in safeguards approaches for fuel fabrication and conversion facilities under both ‘traditional safeguards’, where inspection activities are guided by the Safeguards Criteria, and ‘integrated safeguards’, directed by the State Level Safeguards Approaches. The paper discusses key features of the SNRI approach such as notification period, mailbox declarations and retention period. The paper also examines the scope of verification activities that would be required during SNRI, the frequency of inspections, and the effect the scope and the frequency have on the effectiveness of such an inspection regime.