Implementation of International Inspections in the United States

Since President Clinton's September 27, 1993, policy statement, approximately 12 metric tons if excess material at Oak Ridge, Hanford, and Rocky Flats have been placed under IAEA safeguards. Further, the IAEA completed verification of the HEU down blending operations at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in July 1998. At the September 1996 IAEA General Conference, former Secretary of Energy Hazel O'Leary announced that the United States would make an additional 26 metric tons available for Agency inspection over the next three years. Former Secretary of Energy Pena further expanded on the U.S. offer of excess materials in his address to the IAEA General Conference in September 1997. Former Secretary Pena declared that a further amount of 52 metric tons the total amount of excess material either already under Agency inspection or committed by the U.S. This paper will discuss the experience to date with IAEA inspections in the United States and outline upcoming activities.