International Safeguards Implementation Experience at the Savannah River Site

This paper details the development and implementation experience with the United States Department of Energy (USDOE) and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) integrated safeguards implementation at the K-Area Material Storage (KAMS) facility at the Savannah River Site (SRS). The KAMS facility is primarily used for interim storage of plutonium material from the USDOE complex. A portion of the KAMS facility is dedicated to storing IAEA material exclusively, where to date approximately one metric ton of plutonium has been placed under IAEA safeguards since November 2002 in support of the Nation’s nuclear weapons nonproliferation goals and treaties. The SRS IAEA safeguards technical approach with radio-frequency tamper-indicating devices (RFTID) is original in scope and process, and sets the precedent for ongoing efforts in the implementation of IAEA nuclear safeguards at similar facilities. The longterm program benefits and objectives include unattended and remote IAEA monitoring, and includes less invasive periodic IAEA inspections while maintaining an established high level of confidence. The RFTID seal system computer interface technology development has been continuously improved by the Sandia National Laboratory design team, and the nextgeneration “T1A” seals are currently being tested at SRS. Special security plans are prepared and carefully adhered to for all IAEA inspection visits at SRS, and provisions for information protection include a dedicated IAEA office for inspectors with access to dedicated sealed repositories for all IAEA equipment and support materials within the KAMS facility. Agenda reviews are conducted prior to each inspection with the applicable SRS staff. Clear communication lines have been established to facilitate the transmittal of any routine and potentially urgent information between key staff at SRS and the IAEA at Vienna, Austria.