Rulemaking Activities for Enhanced Security of Special Nuclear Material by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) last updated its regulations for the physical protection of special nuclear material (SNM) over 30 years ago. A Regulatory Basis was published in 2015, and the development of the proposed rule is underway. The proposed rule is material-based and proposes equivalent protection of the SNM regardless of the facility. The NRC rulemaking considers a number of risk insights including changes in the threat environment, material attractiveness, and sabotage risk. In addition, the rulemaking considers the recommendations in the recently published “Nuclear Security Recommendations on Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials and Nuclear Facilities (INFCIRC/225/Revision 5).” The rulemaking would affect fuel cycle and research and test reactors facilities, as well as other industrial and academic facilities using SNM. This paper summarizes the application of material attractiveness concepts in the rulemaking.