Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the
2002 International RERTR Meeting

IMPROVING NUCLEAR SAFETY AT INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH REACTORS: THE INTEGRATED RESEARCH REACTOR SAFETY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM (IRRSEP)

David Huizenga, Douglas Newton, Joyce Connery

Office of International Nuclear Safety and Cooperation, National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy

ABSTRACT

Nuclear energy continues to play a major role in the world’s energy economy.  Research and test reactors are an important component of a nation’s nuclear power infrastructure as they provide training, experiments and operating experience vital to developing and sustaining the industry.  Indeed, nations with aspirations for nuclear power development usually begin their programs with a research reactor program. Research reactors also are vital to international science and technology development. It is important to keep them safe from both accident and sabotage, not only because of our obligation to prevent human and environmental consequence but also to prevent corresponding damage to science and industry. For example, an incident at a research reactor could cause a political and public backlash that would do irreparable harm to national nuclear programs.  Following the accidents at Three Mile Island and Chornobyl, considerable efforts and resources were committed to improving the safety posture of the world’s nuclear power plants.  Unsafe operation of research reactors will have an amplifying effect throughout a country or region’s entire nuclear programs due to political, economic and nuclear infrastructure consequences.

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