Argonne National Laboratory
RERTR
Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors
Nuclear Science and Engineering Division at Argonne
U.S. Department of Energy

IAEA/USA Interregional course on
Preparations to Ship Spent Nuclear Fuel (1997)

IAEA SAFEGUARDS


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Contact:
Dr. Iain G. Ritchie
Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Materials Section
Division of Nuclear Power and the Fuel Cycle
International Atomic Energy Agency
Wagrammerstrasse 5
P. O. Box 100
A-1400 Vienna, Austria
Tel.: +43-1-2060-22759
Fax: +43-1-20607-22759
E-mail: [email protected]

IAEA/USA Interregional Training Course

Technical and Administrative Preparations Required for Shipment of Research Reactor Spent Fuel to its Country of Origin

13-24 January 1997
Argonne, IL

IAEA SAFEGUARDS


Iain G. Ritchie
Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Materials Section
Division of Nuclear Power and the Fuel Cycle
International Atomic Energy Agency
Vienna, Austria


 
SAFEGUARDS
  • RESPONSIBILITIES OF EXPORTING STATE
  • RESPONSIBILITIES OF RECIPIENT STATE
  • RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE IAEA
EXPORTING STATE

MOST STATES HAVE CLEAR OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE AGREEMENT WITH THE IAEA IN CONNECTION WITH THE TREATY ON THE NON-PROLIFERATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

EXPORTING STATE
  • Has the responsibility for the SF until the recipient State (US) assumes responsibility

No third State is deemed to have responsibility for SF which is in transit on or over its territory or territorial waters, or that is being transported under its flag or in its aircraft

EXPORTING STATE

Shall report the shipment of the SF as soon as possible after the event but no later than 30 days after the end of the month in which the shipment took place

EXPORTING STATE

Must notify the IAEA after the conclusion of contractual arrangements leading to transfer and at least two weeks before it is prepared for shipping. Notification of:

  • ID, quantity, composition and MBA from which it will come
  • destination (SRS, INEL)
  • dates and locations at which it will be prepared for shipping
  • dates of dispatch and arrival (approx.)
  • point of transfer of responsibility
EXPORTING STATE

Shall make arrangements for the IAEA to receive, within 3 months of the time when the recipient State accepts responsibility, confirmation by the recipient State of the transfer

  • Special reports are required if any unusual incident or circumstances (including significant delay) occur during the transfer
IAEA

Notification by the exporting State is to enable the IAEA to verify the quantity and composition of SF before it is transferred out of the State and, if the IAEA wishes or the State requests, to affix seals on the SF when it has been prepared for shipping.

  • The IAEA will not delay the shipment by such actions.
  • Shall count, verify and seal, if necessary, or applicable SF for transport

In practice, if an inspector happens to be there at the time of shipment, he/she will verify (count) the shipment, if not, verification will be by Transfer Matching and inspection and verification of the remaining fuel during the next inspection

  • Partially filled casks in one State going on to be filled in another may cause complications
  • The IAEA may seal such casks or require an inspector to verify the contents at the intermediate stop.
RECIPIENT STATE

Should provide, for each import of nuclear material >1 eff. kg which immediately prior to shipment was subject to safeguards under an agreement with the IAEA, the following:

  • the State and organization or company from which the SF is received;
  • description, composition and quantity.
  • As soon as possible after receipt of the material.
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ARGONNE NATIONAL LABORATORY, Nuclear Engineering Division, RERTR Department
9700 South Cass Ave., Argonne, IL 60439-4814
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Last modified on July 29, 2008 11:33 +0200