ML20040G407
| ML20040G407 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 02/01/1982 |
| From: | NRC |
| To: | |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8202120279 | |
| Download: ML20040G407 (3) | |
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'b ancaVED dI FEB 11982 " h IMPACT OF IAEA SAFEGUARDS ON M g enrr a u*:8 533%
g THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 6
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We have been invited to present our views on the impact of IAEA safeguards on the Nuclear Regulator Comission and its domestic safeguards program. These impacts include the increased liaison required with other U. S. agencies; the necessary new and revised regulations; the modifica-tions to the U. S. " Nuclear Materials Management and Safeguards System" (NMMSS) to provide information to the IAEA; the provision of guidance to selected licensees; additional NRC inspection effort; and the effect of the ir.plementation activities on NRC staffing.
On December 9, 1980, the US/IAEA Safeguards Agreement was put into force. This culminated an effort that started in December 1967 when President Johnson, in an attempt to obtain acceptance of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, volunteered to permit the IAEA to apply its safeguards on all commercial nuclear activities in the United l
States. A regulatory representative was appointed to participate with the Executive Branch in the Development of the text of the Agreement. As time-progressed, we began working with other U. S. agencies and with the IAEA on various ad hoc committees formed to solve specific problems. Now, we hold membership in several permanent interagency groups involved in imple-i menting IAEA safeguards.
l In late 1975, work was started on the preparation of regulations necessary to implement the IAEA program.
In July 1978, a proposed rule was published in the Federal Register. After several iterations, the rule was published in final farm in July 1980.
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In an effort to minimize the impact on licensees of providing safe _
guards information to the IAEA, the decision was made to utilize, to the maximum degree possible, the current NRC domestic reporting program. A study was undertaken to determine how best to accomplish this. The standard material transfer form (Form 741) and the material balance report form (Form 742) were modified to include data elements necessary to collect additional information for the IAEA. New " Physical Inventory Listing" and
" Concise Note" forms were designed. A new set of instructions were developed for use with these new and revised forms. Considerable staff effort and contractual assistance over a several year period was expended on this task. Working closely with the Department of Energy (DOE),with whom we share the U. S. computerized information system, and with Union Carbide Corporation at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, who operates the program, appNpriate software was developed to enable us to transmit information to the IAEA in a tape format that will interface with the IAEA equipment.
All selected licensees are required to submit certain information related to their facilities on an appropriate IAEA " Design Information Questionnaire"(DIQ). Several manyears of staff effort, in addition to I
contractual support, were utilized in developing written guidance for licensees to use in preparing this information. NRC has continually endeavored to keep all interested parties informed of the status of the efforts to implement the Presidential Offer and its potential impact on the industry. During the development of the Agreement, several industry briefings were given. A number of presentations have been made at various professional meetings. After the implementing regulations were finalized, two industry workshops were held to discuss the new requirements.
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With the advent of IAEA inspections in selected U. S. facilities, NRC's role increased significantly. To the extent feasible, NRC is com-mitted to assign an employee to accompany IAEA representatives engaged in inipections. This, in essence, provides front line liaison with the IAEA inspectors in the field.
Such responsibility falls mainly on our Office of Inspection and Enforcement (IE).
In addition, IE assures that licensees comply with the requirements of 10 CFR Part 75 in the same manner as with any other domestic regulation.
In summary, during the years that preparations were being made and programs were being developed for implementing IAEA safeguards in the U.S.,
NRC utilized a small cadre of people dedicated to these activities and many others, including contractors, on an ad hre basis as the need arose.
Our efforts to maintain the IAEA program include such things as the collection and issuance to the IAEA of routine accounting information, the revision of facility information and facility attachments to reflect significant operational and design modifications to facilities, the conduct of activities associated with the IAEA inspection program, and the rotation of selected facilities or the addition of new facilities for safeguards.