1 of 1 EMCH 550 Introduction to Nuclear Safeguards Summer 2020 Assignment 1 – Self-Assessment May 27, 2020 Due June 3, 2020 – 10:00AM Instructions: read and follow all instructions or your assignment may not be graded: Put your name and page number on each and every sheet Use at least 1-inch margins all around. Type your paper double spaced using 12 pt font, Times Roman. Acceptable format is MSWord for short narrative, PDF for the scanned marked up of the assignment and key. Reminder: You are bound by the university’s honor code and may not receive assistance in completing this assignment. It is your individual work. 1. Score your response submitted for Assignment 1 according to the Self-Assessment Key provided here (next page). a. With a red ink pen line through items in the key that are missing, incomplete, or incorrectly stated. b. Underline with a red ink pen in your printed submission for Assignment 1 those key areas that respond to the items in the assignment key. c. Circle in your reference list the two additional sources you found beyond what was provided with the course (i.e. literature sources found from library). d. Write your name on the Self-Assessment Key that you mark up. 2. Total the points for the assignment and write it on the Self-Assessment Key at the bottom and sign. 3. Prepare a short narrative (less than a page, double spaced) summarizing your assessment of your submitted Assignment 1. Describe the strengths and weaknesses. Describe your preparation for the assignment and how you plan to improve your approach to future assignments and grow through this process. 4. Email the narrative (MSWord file) and scanned marked up assignment with the marked-up assignment key/scoring (one PDF file) as instructed above. The marked-up assignment key is page 1 of the PDF file. 5. Recall that the Self-Assessment is 25% of the grade for this assignment. 6. I will review your scoring of the assignment to be sure that it is accurate and complete and make adjustments as needed. These adjustments will factor into the scoring of the Self-Assessment (i.e. a correctly scored assignment and one that properly recognizes the strengths and weaknesses will receive full credit for the Self-Assessment). Assignment 1 - Grading key for self-assessment: Your answers require details and not just lists or vague reference or copying from a website. Should be a synthesis of your understanding and not just quoting from documents/webpages. Actual citations in the text are required where appropriate. Key terms should be clearly explained to show understanding. points: IAEA 1 History/Charter 1 Reporting to UN Security Council 1 Independent of UN 1 No enforcement authority 1 Authority to declare states in violation safeguards agreements 3 pillars/objectives/missions 1 1) Science and technology 1 2) Safety and security 1 3) Safeguards and verification 1 ----3 roles: safeguard agreements, surveillance, inspection 3 governing bodies (Sect./DG, GC, BoG) 1 Secretariat/Director General 1 --Roles/functions 1 General Conference 1 --Roles/functions 1 Board of Governors 1 --Roles/functions NPT 1 Features/History 1 1) prevent wider dissemination of nuclear weapons 1 2) safeguard special fissionable material, source material; 1 3) nuclear technology available peaceful purposes; 1 4) pursue disarmament, cessation arms race Obligations under NPT(4 in article III) -these in particular 1 1) NNWS agree accept safeguards 1 2) Agree not provide SFM or related equipment unless under safeguards 1 3) Safeguards not to prevent peaceful uses/development 1 4) NNWS agree to conclude safeguards agreements in certain timeframe Clearly define and identify 1 NWS, nuclear weapons states 1 ----identify by name 1 NNWS, non-nuclear weapons states 1 Non-signatorys to treaty 1 ----identify by name 3 types of agreements and describe: 1 1) comprehensive safeguards agreement (CSA) 1 2) voluntary offer agreement (VOA) 1 3) item specific agreements Uses terms of (should have encountered these in reading and needed to adequately explain assignment) 1 special fissionable material (SFM) 1 source material Content, format, references 1 citations in the text 1 list of references/citations 1 two additional references as specified (other than provided) 1 format: margin, font, double space 1 format: name and page number 1 grammar and readability 40 TOTAL of graded points NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS Introduction to Nuclear Safeguards - EMCH 550 1 NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS 2 The History of IAEA The history of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) dates back in 1957, following the growing concerns over the discoveries and multiple uses of nuclear technology (Fischer, 1997). The man behind the genesis of this Agency was by then the U.S president Eisenhower who advocated for it is commonly referred to as the 'atoms of peace' (Bechhoefer & Stein, 1956). He made these remarks on the 8th of December the year 1953 while addressing the United Nations General Assembly (Fischer, 1997). Following his remarks, 81 nations in October the year 1956 all agreed to commend the IAEA statute. The U.S ratified the statute on the 29th of July, 1957, led by President Eisenhower (Bechhoefer & Stein, 1956). The Agency came under the umbrella of the United Nations family. It closely worked with its member states and other partners of interest to enhance safety, security, and peaceful use of nuclear technologies globally (Roehrlich, 2016). The delegates unanimously agreed to establish its headquarters in Vienna, Austria, in October 1957(Fischer, 1997). The Structure of IAEA The IAEA structure consists of three primary organs, each with its differentiated mandate (Stoessinger, 1959). The General Conference is the organ that is made up of all members, each having one vote. The members usually meet once a year in Vienna (headquarters). Under this organ, the only special meeting can be planned and held by the Secretariat upon a successful approval by the Board of governors or through votes from the members (Scheinman, 2016). The General Conference is responsible for conducting elections where 22-35 members are usually elected to hold the position of Board of Governors for two years. The General Conference is also responsible for considering and approving annual reports from the Board before submitting them to the UN and other bilateral and multilateral agreements with other organizations (Scheinman, NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS 3 2016). Apart from those mandates, the General Conference approves the recommended budget from the Board plus, discussing any issue of concern regarding the IAEA (Scheinman, 2016). The Board of Governors is the organ responsible for dealing with all the functions that relate to the Agency's rules. The membership in the Board consists of up to 35 members who usually meet five times annually (Scheinman, 2016). The last organ is the Secretariat, who is always a nominee from the Board of Governors pending approval from the General Conference for a term not exceeding four years. The statute itself describes the Secretariat as being the 'Chief Administrative Officer of the Agency' (Scheinman, 2016). The exercise of control and authority of the Secretariat directly depends on the outcomes from the Board of Governors. The Secretariat's primary responsibilities are appointing, organizing, and functioning of the Agency's staff members. The Functioning of the IAEA When it comes to performing its functions, the IAEA agency performs its duties in line with the laid down protocols and guidelines of the United Nations in promoting harmony and unity throughout the world (Fischer, 1997). The Agency's primary functions are encouraging and assisting in research activities for the development and proper usage of atomic energy throughout the world in a peaceful manner (Fischer, 1997). Establishing and administering safeguards that ensure the Agency's activities and relevant assistance is not put into military purposes (Fischer, 1997). The Origin and Purpose of the NPT The origin of NPT dates back in the year 1960's but came to be signed in the year 1968, but its full implementation came in the year 1970 (Epstein, 1976). Ireland was the first nation to formally propose such a motion in 1958 during a convened meeting of the United Nations NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS 4 following the rising cases of nuclear proliferation (Popp et al., 2016). Before its establishment, there were growing concerns over the ongoing disputes between states and the immense pressure over the possibilities of the emergence of nuclear war (Epstein, 1976). The main purpose of coming up with this treaty was to initiate and enhance international cooperation between and among fissionable and non-fissionable states to curb proliferation (Burns et al., 2015). Obligations of the NPT on Countries that are Signatory to the Treaty The obligations of the NPT were ratified by both NWS and the NNWS (Bourantonis, 2015). From articles I and II of the treaty, it is an obligation that; NWS is bound by the agreement not to engage the non-counterparts in developing or acquiring nuclear weapons (Bourantonis, 2015). On the other hand, NNWS is obliged not to pursue such weapons. Article VII of NPT acknowledges that; all state parties, both NWS and NNWS, have the right to engage in collaborative research for developing and using nuclear energy for only purposes that are nonweapon-related (Bourantonis, 2015). Article V of NPT stipulates that both state parties can work with each other when it comes to research work on nuclear provided that they do interfere with peace and harmony. Article VI of the NPT pledges the state parties to engage in constructive negotiations, especially when it comes to pausing and fissile disarmament (Bourantonis, 2015). Article VIII of the NPT on the amendment of the treaty requires the state parties to engage in a complex and lengthy process by pinning down any changes that have no clear consensus (Bourantonis, 2015). The article of NPT on withdrawal of membership requires such a state to give a prior notice, which should be served at least three months earlier, considering that some events might compromise the interests of such a nation. NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS 5 Obligations on Safeguards plus the Goals, and Mission Article III of the NPT requires all the NNWS parties to comply when it comes to safeguards agreement with the IAEA to enable the International Atomic and Energy Agency to verify and ensure that the fulfillment of the state's party obligation as contained in NPT (Dupont, 2016). This gives the IAEA a specific responsibility of carrying out verification as the Chief International Safeguards Inspectorate. This means that; it has to validate the fulfillment of the requirements in the NPT by NNWS so as to avoid changing of nuclear energy from peaceable uses to other uses such as those on making unintended weapons or any dangerous device that may jeopardize the peace of a nation (Dupont, 2016). The Different Types of Safeguards Agreements between the IAEA and States There are three primary safeguard agreements, as discussed below. Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements Majority of the safeguard agreements from which the IAEA applies its safeguards belong to the comprehensive safeguard agreements. All the nuclear material within the state are covered under this type of agreement (Goldschmidt, 2015). The comprehensive safeguard agreements follow an appropriate pattern and information as inscribed in the Agency document (Rauf, 2016). All the NNWS are required to be bound by the comprehensive safeguard agreements according to their obligation as contained in the NPT (Rauf, 2016). Furthermore, this type of safeguard agreements applies to both bilateral and multilateral agreements. Item-Specific Safeguards Agreements This kind of agreement is only applicable to some countries, whereby the IAEA Agency applies the safeguard agreements that nuclear materials specified in the agreement (Rauf, 2016). Typically, agreements under this type come into play after the conditions are agreed with the NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS 6 state party supplying the items of interest to another state as contained in the IAEA document (INFCIRC/66/Rev.25) (Rauf, 2016). Furthermore, this type of agreement provides a basis under which safeguards on nuclear material and others such as zirconium tubes, the relevant facility, a large water production company, and the nuclear-related equipment can be used (Rauf, 2016). The IAEA is responsible for ensuring that the items mentioned above are not put into use as nuclear weapons or explosives (Rauf, 2016). Voluntary Offer Agreements This is the type of safeguard agreement under which the Nuclear Weapon States have voluntarily decided to offer nuclear material of the facility from which the IAEA may choose to apply the safeguards (Goldschmidt, 2015). Under this type of safeguard agreement, materials, or facilities considered to be of significance to the national security of a state are usually not covered under the IAEA (Goldschmidt, 2015). NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS 7 References Bechhoefer, B. G., & Stein, E. (1956). Atoms for Peace: The new international atomic energy agency. Mich. L. Rev., 55, 747. Bourantonis, D. (2015). The International Nuclear Non-Proliferation Policy Framework under the NPT and Related Instruments. In The EU and the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (pp. 33-47). Palgrave Macmillan, London. Burns, R. D., & Coyle III, H. P. E. (2015). The challenges of nuclear non-proliferation. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Dupont, P. E. (2016). Interpretation of Nuclear Safeguards Commitments: The Role of Subsequent Agreements and Practice. In Nuclear Non-Proliferation in International Law (pp. 23-56). TMC Asser Press, The Hague. Epstein, W. (1976). Last change: nuclear proliferation and arms control. Fischer, D. (1997). History of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The First Forty Years. Goldschmidt, P. (2015). Securing irreversible IAEA safeguards to close the next NPT loophole. Arms Control Today, 45(2), 15. Popp, R., Horovitz, L., & Wenger, A. (Eds.). (2016). Negotiating the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty: Origins of the Nuclear Order. Taylor & Francis. Rauf, T. (2016). The General Framework of IAEA Safeguards. In Nuclear Non-Proliferation in International Law (pp. 11-21). TMC Asser Press, The Hague. Roehrlich, E. (2016). The Cold War, the developing world, and the creation of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), 1953–1957. Cold War History, 16(2), 195-212. NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS Scheinman, L. (2016). The international atomic energy agency and world nuclear order. Routledge. Stoessinger, J. G. (1959). The International Atomic Energy Agency: The First Phase. International Organization, 13(3), 394-411. 8 1 of 1 EMCH 550 Introduction to Nuclear Safeguards Summer 2020 Assignment 1 – Self-Assessment May 27, 2020 Instructions: read and follow all instructions or your assignment may not be graded: Put your name and page number on each and every sheet Use at least 1-inch margins all around. Type your paper double spaced using 12 pt font, Times Roman. Acceptable format is MSWord for short narrative, PDF for the scanned marked up of the assignment and key. Reminder: You are bound by the university’s honor code and may not receive assistance in completing this assignment. It is your individual work. 1. Score your response submitted for Assignment 1 according to the Self-Assessment Key provided here (next page). a. With a red ink pen line through items in the key that are missing, incomplete, or incorrectly stated. b. Underline with a red ink pen in your printed submission for Assignment 1 those key areas that respond to the items in the assignment key. c. Circle in your reference list the two additional sources you found beyond what was provided with the course (i.e. literature sources found from library). d. Write your name on the Self-Assessment Key that you mark up. 2. Total the points for the assignment and write it on the Self-Assessment Key at the bottom and sign. 3. Prepare a short narrative (less than a page, double spaced) summarizing your assessment of your submitted Assignment 1. Describe the strengths and weaknesses. Describe your preparation for the assignment and how you plan to improve your approach to future assignments and grow through this process. 4. Email the narrative (MSWord file) and scanned marked up assignment with the marked-up assignment key/scoring (one PDF file) as instructed above. The marked-up assignment key is page 1 of the PDF file. 5. Recall that the Self-Assessment is 25% of the grade for this assignment. 6. I will review your scoring of the assignment to be sure that it is accurate and complete and make adjustments as needed. These adjustments will factor into the scoring of the Self-Assessment (i.e. a correctly scored assignment and one that properly recognizes the strengths and weaknesses will receive full credit for the Self-Assessment).
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