COOPERATION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NATIONAL LABORATORIES AND MAYAK PRODUCTION ASSOCIATION FOR ENHANCEMENTS TO MATERIAL PROTECTION CONTROL AND ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS

The Agreement Between the Department of Defense of the United States and The Ministry of the Russian Federation for Atomic Energy (MINATOM) Concerning Control, Accounting, and Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, as well as a subsequent amendment to that agreement and a joint statement signed by the Department of Energy (DOE) and MINATOM, resulted in the selection of the Mayak Production Association (MPA) as one of the Russian enterprises that would participate with DOE Laboratories in expanded cooperation aimed at enhancing Material Protection, Control and Accounting (MPC&A) systems in both countries. This paper describes the nature and scope of the expanded cooperation involving MPA and six DOE laboratories at an operating civilian, spent-nuclearfuel reprocessing plant designated RT-1. RT- 1 produces, among other materials, reactor-grade plutonium dioxide, a direct-use material that is stored within the boundaries of this plant. Initial efforts at expanded cooperation will focus on enhancements to the existing MPC&A systems at MPA’s RT- 1 pkmt.