Principal Areas of Activity to Improve the Monitoring of Nuclear Material Security and Accounting in the Russian Federation Ministry of Atomic Energy, within the Framework of the Program of Cooperation with the United States of America

Year
2004
Author(s)
V.V. Erastov - Federal Agency for Atomic Energy
M. Cunningham - Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Abstract
nuclear materials (SSAC NM) is a “universal” oversight system for nuclear materials security covering material protection, control and accounting (MPC&A) at the Federal, Agency, and Enterprise levels. Oversight of SSAC NM has always been considered important by the State. Originally this activity included, in general, oversight of the maintenance of secrecy and security during the performance of various kinds of work connected with special production (classified products and materials). Since 1995, beginning with the enactment of the Federal law “On the use of atomic energy,” this activity has received additional development beyond organizational-methodological activities. Technical equipment and new technologies have been introduced into work on the control of nuclear materials security (for example, means of controlling access to nuclear material, equipment for detecting radiation from nuclear material, etc.). One goal of the Russian-U.S. collaborative program is the introduction of modern technologies in the area of nuclear materials security to the Russian installations using nuclear materials for industrial and scientific activities. Financial support has been provided by the United States to create a regulatory basis; to supply information; increase transportation security of nuclear material; create educational centers and improve the professional skill of experts and methodology and metrology of nuclear material measurements; and develop agency MPC&A inspections.