DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF A DESIGN BASIS THREAT FOR USE IN DESIGNING NUCLEAR SAFEGUARDS

The paper provides information and guidance for use when developing a design basis threat against which safeguards systems are designed. It also provides a methodology for systematically revalidating the design basis threats to assure they remain reasonable characterizations of hypothetical threats. The paper was originally developed as part of a program the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is participating in to assist countries of the former Soviet Union to upgrade their nuclear safeguards programs. It reflects the safeguards philosophy and experience developed at the NRC over the past two decades.