THE BENEFITS OF THE IPPAS PROGRAM

Year
2001
Author(s)
Mark Soo Hoo - International Atomic Energy Agency
David Ek - Sandia National Laboratories
Terry Jenkin - Atomic Energy Control Board (retired)
Cris Price - Office of Civil Nuclear Security—U.K.
Arvydas Stadkniklas - State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate
Abstract
In 1996, the International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) was established by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to help combat illicit trafficking in nuclear material. Effective physical protection systems are considered essential to the prevention of the theft of nuclear material. The IPPAS program is a fundamental part of the Agency’s effort to assist Member States to establish and/or maintain effective physical protection systems. The IPPAS program assists IAEA Member States, upon request, with an appraisal of their national systems for physical protection of facilities that contain nuclear materials. This appraisal includes a nationallevel review of the legal and regulatory framework for physical protection, and a facility-level review of the physical protection measures and procedures in place to implement that framework.