VERIFICATION OF MASTER SAFEGUARDS AND SECURITY AGREEMENTS

Master Safeguards and Security Agreements (MSS As), as controlling sections of a Site Safeguards and Security Plan (SSSP), constitute binding agreements between an Operations Office and the Department of Energy-Headquarters (DOE-HQ) regarding acceptable levels of risk for safeguards and security (S&S) interests. An approved MSSA is expected to concisely summarize (1) the critical elements being agreed to and (2) the facts and philosophy that justify a site-specific risk posture, based on the probable threats and the consequences associated with target loss. The agreed-upon level of protection is expected to persist as long as there is no change in the perceived threat, facility activity, physical system construction, physicaloradministrative system operation, or strategic long-range planning.