Role of Nonproliferation at the NRC

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is an independent agency created by Congress to license and regulate the Nation’s civilian use of byproduct, source, and special nuclear materials to ensure adequate protection of public health and safety, promote the common defense and security, and protect the environment. The NRC’s scope of responsibility includes regulation of commercial nuclear power plants; research, test and training reactors; nuclear fuel cycle facilities; medical, academic, and industrial uses of radioactive materials; and the transport, storage, and disposal of radioactive wastes. The NRC is also responsible for the licensing the export and import of nuclear material and equipment. While the NRC’s main mission and functions are well known to the general public, many members of the public might not know that the NRC also plays a pivotal role in the nuclear nonproliferation regime, both domestically and internationally. Nuclear nonproliferation </i>refers to efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and the means to make them. Nonproliferation is an important policy focus of the U.S. government and the international community. This requires controlling the spread of sensitive nuclear weapons-related information and the technology used to produce weapons-grade fissile material. The State Department is the lead U.S. agency on nonproliferation issues, with support from the Commerce, Defense and Energy Departments, the intelligence community, and the NRC. The NRC supports overall nonproliferation policy by ensuring that NRC-licensed facilities are constructed and operated safely and securely. The NRC also ensures that licensees adhere to export control requirements/regulations for nuclear material and equipment, and that classified information, for example concerning uranium enrichment technology, is protected. In addition to regulated activities, the NRC also actively participates in interagency cooperation supporting international nonproliferation efforts, such as the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Review Conference, negotiations of civil nuclear cooperation agreements, the Nuclear Suppliers Group, International Atomic Energy Agency working groups and conferences, consultations of nuclear technology transfers, and providing assistance on nuclear safety and security to its international partners/counterparts, among many other endeavors. This presentation’s goal will be to highlight the NRC’s important role in the implementation of U.S. nonproliferation policy.