Assignment 4, Key for Self-Assessment
IAEA Safeguards System: Goals/purpose:
1 Verify correct and complete declaration
1 Verify compliance with safeguards obligations
1 Timely detection of diversion
1 Material accountancy; material unaccounted for through material accountancy
IAEA Safeguards System: Activities/functions of the system:
1 Collect/evaluate info from the state
1 Develop safeguards approaches
1 Plan, conduct, evaluate safeguards activities
1 Draw safeguard conclusions
Types of Inspections:
1 Initial – verify construction in accordance with DIQ
Ad hoc – verify initial report of nuclear material (quantity, composition, enrichment);
1 changes in initial report
Routine inspections-regular basis established in agreement; verify report vs. records;
1 verify location, quantity, composition material under safeguards
1 Special inspections- outside ad hoc or routine inspections; check on rumors
1 Unannounced inspections-short notice, prevent non-compliance at known facilities
Inspector activities:
Before:
Analyze evaluate state provided info such as material accountability reports, design
1 info facility
1 Check for inconsistencies
Evaluate third party or open source info publications, literature, satellite data, new
1 reports
During:
1 Audit operating and accounting records,
1 Verify inventories and changes to inventory,
1 Inspect surveillance and containment,
1 NDA, collect samples DA, environmental sampling
After:
1 Evaluate all info collected; provide samples to laboratories for analysis
1 Final report; determine state compliance with agreements.
General Assignment Directions
1 Submit 1 file via email as instructed
1 format: font correct, double spaced
1 format: name and page number
1 citation of references in the text, list of references
1 2 additional references according to instructions
27 TOTAL Graded Points
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Introduction to Nuclear Safeguard – EMCH 550
IAEA Inspection
Description of the IAEA Safeguard System
The IAEA is an international agency that was established to prevent nuclear weapons
from spreading. The agency ensures that there is early detection of any nuclear technology
misuse (Morris & Elkhamri, 2008). The agency's purpose is to provide a reliable guarantee that
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all states honor the set guidelines and that nuclear material or technology is utilized for peaceful
agendas. Safeguards are the technical measures that are applied by the IAEA on all nuclear
activities to determine the purposes in which nuclear materials or technology is used for. States
agree on the measures set to verify the use of nuclear materials/technology through acceptance to
the conclusion of safeguards agreements. According to Morris & Elkhamri (2008), the
international security system depends on the IAEA safeguards to ensure that nuclear technology
is not misused. There are global efforts to prevent further spread of nuclear weapons whose
centerpiece the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty. The treaty requires each NonNuclear Weapon State to complete a safeguards agreement with the IAEA.
The IAEA safeguard system is used to build confidence among states that no country is
making weapons contrary to the agreement; it’s an early warning alarm if any state goes against
the agreed measures and also triggers immediate responses from the international community
once a state breaches the agreed measures on the use of nuclear materials or technology (IAEA
Department of Safeguards, 2007). The IAEA is mandated with the setting of nuclear verification
measures to be used in assessing the compliance of states to the set measures as well as
inspecting nuclear sites for policy compliance purposes. The evaluation of the completeness and
correctness of states declared nuclear materials and activities form the basis of safeguards. The
IAEA has to verify the completeness and truthfulness of the declared information through on-site
inspection, regular visits, and continued monitoring and evaluation. The IAEA safeguard system
is mandated by carrying out two sets of measures according to the safeguard agreements that
apply in a state.
IAEA has to verify the state's reports of declared nuclear materials and activities. The
measures which are authorized on the Non-Proliferation Treaty are majorly based on the
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accountancy of nuclear materials which are further strengthened by containment and evaluation
techniques. The other set of measures strengthens the inspection abilities of the IAEA. These
measures are included in the Additional protocol. The measures not only enable the IAEA to
verify the authenticity of declared nuclear materials or activities but further give assurances
concerning the unavailability of undeclared nuclear activities or materials in a country. The
agency is further mandated by carrying out various on-site inspections and visits. The on-site
inspections ensure that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in a certain state.
Again, the inspection ensures that all set guidelines have been followed effectively.
Forms of Inspections within the IAEA
Various forms of inspectiosn that IAEA undetakes under the safguards agreements. They
include;
i.
Routine Inspections
Being the commonly used inspection, it is undertaken based on a defined timetable,
short-notice, or can be unannounced. IAEA’s rights carry out this form of inspection is limited to
some areas. They include areas surrounded by a nuclear facility, or areas having the nuclear
material that is predicted to flow. These areas are called strategic points. These inspections are
useful in monitoring the occurrence and distribution of nuclear material with respect to time and
space (International Atomic Energy Agency, n.d.).
ii.
Ad hoc Inspections
This form of inspection aims to verify the initial report of the State about nuclear material
or verifies report on the changes that might be present (International Atomic Energy Agency,
n.d.). This inspection also confirms the nuclear material that plays a part in international
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transfers. This form of inspection is appropriate when investigating and tracing nuclear material
and its effects on the environment, which can help in controlling its spread through international
transfers.
iii.
Special Inspections
These inspections are undertaken in situations that are in line with well-defined protocols
or rather procedure within a facility. A situation that can prompt the use of these inspections by
IAEA is when IAEA finds and considers that available information for a state is deemed as
insufficient for the agency to accomplish its roles or responsibilities as required by the
safeguards agreement (International Atomic Energy Agency, n.d.). The information that the
agency bases on to determining its insufficiency for these forms of inspections to be valid
include report information acquired from routine inspections and State explanations. This form
of inspection offers quick and sound decisions since it is carried out by IAEA experts.
iv.
Safeguards Visits
These forms of inspections involve directly paying visits to nuclear facility sites in times
deemed to necessary within a lifecycle. It is aimed at authenticating design information that is
relevant in relation to nuclear safeguards. An example of a situation in which such inspection is
carried out is when construction is ongoing. It can be done to investigate the wholeness of design
information declared before the inspection is done. Safeguards visits can also be done where
during regular operations and succeeding maintenance in a facility when decommissioning a
facility, and verifying that particular equipment was judged to be inoperative. This form of
inspection is more accurate than other types of inspection. Such special inspections rely on State
and routine inspection reports because field expert can obtain firsthand information that can offer
accurate results.
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Inspector Activities
Before Inspection
Before inspectors inspect any field, they have to initially declare and develop facility
agreement that is based on specific sites. These declaration and agreement development seek
approval for routine inspections that are subsequently carried. Notifications are done for a period
of at least 72hours. Meetings undertaken are tailored towards negotiations on the contents of the
best approach to be used in the inspection process. NRC selection is made, and the NRC chosen
communicates to a facility that it has been given the mandate to inspect IAEA’s approval. A
Design Information Questionnaire (DIQ) is made and completed by the operator of the selected
facility. The DIQ details the physical account and the material flow to be used for the facility.
Before an IAEA’s visit to the facility is made, announcements are made to the U.S Department
of State.
During Inspection
During inspections, inspectors perform routine inspections. Inspections are carried out at
declared facilities related to chemical weapons as well as those facilities used in the chemical
industry. The contents of the initial declaration are verified to ensure activities coincide with
CWC obligations. During inspections, inspectors also check chemicals used, their composition,
any observations (visual). They are held responsible for accounting inventories declared in the
initial declaration before inspections are done. By having a maximum of 9 inspectors,
communication is maintained at a higher level, where notifications are made between 1 and 5
days in accordance with the type of facility used as well the management the facility. According
to Bunn (2007), records are examined by IAEA. All the operator equipment and instructors’
operations have their performance checked (Heinonen, 2012). The servicing of equipment meant
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for IAEA safeguards at the facility is carried out regularly. Inspectors perform an independent
measurement to ensure they are at per with the IAEA’s set regulations. During the inspection,
inspectors do a destructive evaluation through sampling. They take any other measures and
activities that IAEA has recommended. The inspection team also audits the facility’s records of
operations and accounting and compares the records alonside state’s report of accounting to
those of the agency (International Atomic Energy Agency, n.d.). The team also takes
environmentatl samples and apply meaures for control and suveillance and include applying seal
and installing surveillance equipment.
After Inspection
After inspection, inspectors prepare a report of the results and an analysis of the findings
for actions possible actions where possible (Spector, 2017). They also monitor the process to
avoid breakout of nuclear material. Verification is done to ensure the IAEA standards are still
met (Andrés, 2008).
Reference
Andrés, G. E. (2008). The International Atomic Energy Agency's Sfeguards System. Int. Law:
Rev. Colomb. Derecho Int. Bogot, 11, 87-118.
Bunn, G. (2007). Nuclear Safeguards: How Far Can Inspectors Go? IAEA.
Heinonen, O. (2012). IAEA Inspections in Perspective. Belfer Center for Science and
International Affairs.
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IAEA Department of Safeguards. (2007). IAEA Safeguards: Staying Ahead of the Game. Vienna:
IAEA.
International Atomic Energy Agency. (n.d.). IAEA Safeguards Overview _ IAEA. Retrieved June
28, 2020, from An Internationl Atomic Energy Agency Web site:
https://www.iaea.org/publications/factsheets/iaea-safeguards-overview
Morris, F. A., & Elkhamri, O. O. (2008). Integrating Domestic and International Safeguards in
Emerging Nuclear Power States. Seattle, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Spector, L. S. (2017). International Atomic Energy Agency Safeguards: Challenge and
Response. AIP Conference Proceedings . 1898, pp. 1-12. Washington, DC: AIP
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