Press Release-10-167, NRC Signs Nuclear Safety Cooperation Agreements with Seven Nations

Press Release-10-167: NRC Signs Nuclear Safety Cooperation Agreements with Seven Nations

ML102650552
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Issue date:	09/22/2010
From:	Office of Public Affairs
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Press Release-10-167
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NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 E-mail: opa.resource@nrc.gov Site: http://www.nrc.gov No.10-167 September 22, 2010 NRC SIGNS NUCLEAR SAFETY COOPERATION AGREEMENTS WITH SEVEN NATIONS The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Gregory B. Jaczko signed agreements with representatives of seven countries for peaceful cooperation in nuclear safety matters while in Vienna, Austria this week to participate in the annual International Atomic Energy Agencys General Conference (GC) as a member of the U.S. Delegation.

These agreements are an important part of the NRCs program to enhance safety and security by exchanging information with our international counterparts, said Chairman Jaczko.

The NRC renewed four arrangements for the exchange of technical information with Japan, Lithuania, Slovakia, and South Korea and initiated one new arrangement with Poland. In addition, the NRC renewed a Memoranda of Cooperation (MOC) for the import and export of certain radioactive sources with Canada and initiated a new MOC with Australia.

Agreements are typically renewed on a five-year basis. They represent a commitment of mutual interest in nuclear safety and facilitate bilateral activities and information sharing between the NRC and other countries. With the agreements signed at the GC, the NRC now has agreements in place with 41 countries.

The primary signers of the agreements were:

Australia: Carl Magnus Larsson, President, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA);

Canada: Michael Binder, President, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC);

Japan: Nobuaki Terasaka, Director-General, Safety Agency of the Ministry of EconomyTrade and Industry; Lithuania: Michail Demcenko, Deputy Head, State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI);

Poland: Michael Waligórski, President of the National Atomic Energy Agency Slovakia: Marta Ziakova, Chairperson, Slovak Nuclear Regulatory Authority; and

South Korea: Ju-Ho Lee, Minister, Ministry of Science and Technology.

The NRCs international cooperation program includes discussions, participation and exchange of information on areas of mutual interest such as operating reactors, control over radioactive sources, safety research, radiation protection, emergency preparedness, risk assessment, licensing, inspection, enforcement, waste management, and security. The NRC also provides assistance to countries developing regulatory programs through training, workshops, peer reviews, and exchange of technical specialists.

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