JNC’s Complementary Access Experiences

The implementation of the Additional Protocol to Japan/IAEA Safeguards Agreement was examined before it entered into force through trials performed at JNC’s Oarai Engineering Center. On December 16th 1999, the Additional Protocol became official and in January 2000 JNC provided their first site information to the Japanese government, which then provided information on all Japan to the IAEA in June 2000. The first Complementary Access in Japan was implemented at JNC’s Ningyo-toge Environmental Engineering Center on November 29, 2000. Since then, JNC has had 17 complementary accesses through the end of 2001 with many at Tokai works and Ningyo-toge. The Additional Protocol increased JNC’s and IAEA’s cost only about 2.2% in terms of person-days, which is less than we expected before. In the future, if Integrated Safeguards reduce traditional safeguards activity, this may increase safeguards efficiencies and reduce costs.