Foreign Obligations Update

The Nuclear Materials Management and Safeguards System (NMMSS) implemented the Foreign Obligations Tracking System effective October 1, 2003. At the time, these changes were reflected in the regulations for the U.S. facilities (both the DOE Manual and the NRC NUREGs). Since the implementation, lessons have been learned and additional changes have occurred that affect the U.S. facilities with respect to foreign obligations. The DOE Manual has been revised twice since then. In addition, the import of major parts and equipment, such as reactor vessel heads, that are subject to an Agreement for Cooperation may add a new layer of foreign obligations on the material. NMMSS continues to update new codes to accommodate this activity. Additional codes will be added in 2006. There have been two full years of foreign obligations accounting and we continue to learn as we change.