“ABACC and the interaction with its partners”
Kevin Veal, PhD
United States Department of Energy
National Nuclear Security Administration
1
Office of Nonproliferation and
International Security
Next Generation Safeguards Initiative
(NGSI)
The Next Generation Safeguards Initiative (NGSI)
is a robust, multi-year program to develop the
policies, concepts, technologies, expertise, and
international safeguards infrastructure necessary
to strengthen and sustain the international
safeguards system as it evolves to meet new
challenges over the next 25 years .
“The United States has
called for added resources
and authorities for the
IAEA.”
President Obama, Vienna,
September 2010
NGSI Consists of Five Strategic Subprograms:
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Policies Development & Outreach
Concepts and Approaches
Technology Development
Human Capital Development
International Engagement
NGSI
Technology Development Overview
• Develop advanced tools and methods to detect
diversion of declared nuclear materials.
• Develop advanced tools and methods to detect
undeclared production or processing of nuclear
material.
• Provide information analysis solutions to
improve state level assessments.
The GeMini high-purity
germanium detector,
winner of a 2009 R&D
100 Award
• Coordinate safeguards technology development
activities with the U.S. Safeguards Support
Program.
GE Reuter-Stokes 10B tube
NGSI
Human Capital Development Overview
• Revitalize and expand the international
safeguards human capital base in the United
States by attracting and training a new
generation of talent.
• Recruit high quality candidates for
positions in the IAEA’s Safeguards
Department.
• Assess ways to integrate efforts to promote
human capital development in the United
States with our international engagement
programs.
Between 2008-2010, NGSI sponsored
300 internships for students from more
than 70 universities.
NGSI
International Engagement Overview
• Establish “nuclear safeguards
infrastructure” with international partners
that have credible plans for nuclear power.
• Increase the effectiveness and efficiency of
safeguards implementation in partner
countries.
• Demonstrate and evaluate the real-world
performance of novel safeguards
technologies developed at the U.S. National
Labs in the facilities of foreign partners.
NDA Training Workshop in Indonesia
Additional Protocol Training with Iraq
Drum Waste Counter in China
NGSI
International Engagement Partners
UKRAINE
SNRCU
TUNISIA
CNSTN
KAZAKHSTAN
KAEC
PHILIPPINES
PNRI
Cooperating with over 19 partners on safeguards capacity-building projects
NGSI
Engagement on SSAC Development
• Establish long-term relationships
with key organizations and
individuals in nuclear-developing
states.
• Support development of
indigenous capacities for
international and domestic
nuclear safeguards.
• Promote best practices
consistent with international
norms and standards, including
implementation of the Additional
Protocol.
State
•Legislative framework
•Government structure
Regulator
•Licensing and
enforcement
•Requirements for
safeguards
Facility
•Nuclear material
accounting
•Nuclear material
control
Fostering the Components of an Effective State
System of Accounting for and Control of Nuclear
Material
NGSI
Bilateral Engagement with Argentina & Brazil
• Support partner countries in
strengthening their own State System of
Accounting for and Control of Nuclear
Material.
– Focused on building capacity in each country
through training and technical exchanges.
UNCC Device for Measuring
Fresh Fuel Bundles in Brazil
– This bilateral support also institutionalizes
the procedures and actions required for
ABACC and IAEA reporting.
New Uranium Standards
Recently Acquired for Argentina
NGSI
Leveraging Bilateral Work in Support of ABACC
Bilateral cooperation with Argentina & Brazil has enhanced
ABACC’s capacity
• The February 2010 Workshop at New Brunswick Laboratory
– Trained 68 Brazilian and Argentine personnel in uncertainty analysis
– Trained personnel will conduct destructive analysis for ABACC
• Brazilian laboratory (BARRA – IRD)
– Part of the IAEA Network of Analytical Laboratories
– Used by ABACC to analyze environmental samples from Argentina
• Argentine laboratory (EZEIZA)
– Will be used by ABACC to analyze environmental samples from Brazil
NGSI
Engagement with ABACC
1994 – Two Significant Developments
• Quadripartite Agreement enters into force
• U.S. DOE – ABACC Agreement signed,
initiating cooperation concerning research
and development in nuclear material
control, accountancy, verification, and
advanced surveillance technologies for
international safeguards applications
NGSI
Engagement with ABACC
• 17 projects have been completed in
support of ABACC’s technical
capabilities and responsibilities as the
Regional Inspectorate.
• Past projects include traditional
safeguards areas, such as:
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Containment and Surveillance
Workshop
Nondestructive Assay
Environmental Sampling
Containment and Surveillance
Training for conducting unannounced
inspections
Environmental Sampling
NGSI
Summary of Current Engagement with ABACC
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Action Sheet 15 – Development of Environmental Sampling Capability in support of the
Regional Agreement between Argentina and Brazil
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Action Sheet 18 – Development of Fast-PTI Surveillance Equipment
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Action Sheet 20 – Investigation of Combined Measurements with Three Dimensional
Design Information Verification System and Gamma-ray Imaging Systems for
International Safeguards Applications
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Action Sheet 21 – Laboratory Quality Assurance through Analytical Standards and
Sample Exchange Programs
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Action Sheet 22 – Cooperation on Developing a Spent Fuel Gross Defect Detection
System at Atucha-I
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Action Sheet 23 – Cooperation on Training for ABACC
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Action Sheet 24 – Developing a System for ABACC to Function as a Regional Center for
Education and Training on Safeguards in South America
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Action Sheet 25 – Secure Remote Access for ABACC
NGSI
Highlights of Engagement with ABACC
• Exploring Novel Technologies
– 3D Imaging +Gamma Measurements
for Design Information Verification
– Spent fuel measurements at Atucha-1
Combining measurements with
3D laser scanning system and
gamma-ray imaging
NGSI
Highlights of Engagement with ABACC
• Training the next generation of safeguards
experts
– Participation in safeguards technical training
workshops
– Cooperation on the development of a new
regional center of excellence
Safeguards technical training
workshop with students from
North Africa and Southeast Asia
NGSI
Summary & Looking Ahead
• DOE/NNSA bilateral cooperation with Argentina and Brazil
enhances ABACC’s overall capacity.
• We will continue to work together to test new technologies
and train the next generation of safeguards experts.
• Our cooperation not only strengthens the regional safeguards
inspectorate but also the international safeguards regime.
• We look forward to building on our existing partnership to
ensure the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear energy.