TECHNIQUES FOR THE PREVENTION AND REMEDIATION OF SHIPPER/RECEIVER DIFFERENCES

DOE Order 5633.3B requires measurement of Special Nuclear Material (SNM) upon shipment and receipt. These measurements are intended to provide assurance that no SNM has been removed during the transfer process. The receiver's measurement also serves to establish an accountability value for the received SNM. Due to inherent uncertainty involved in the measurement and sampling of nuclear materials, some level of disagreement between shipper's and receiver's values is expected. Due to several factors, these differences may fall outside expected statistical bounds. Statistically significant shipper receiver differences, greater than 50 grams of fissile material or 5 grams of tritium are required to be investigated. This paper provides a review of Material Control and Accountability (MC&A) practices and procedures which will aid in the prevention of shipper/receiver differences, and facilitate successful investigation and closure in the event of a shipper/receiver difference.