ACCOUNTANCY, PHYSICAL CONTROL AND SECURITY: A QUESTION OF BALANCE

The historical development of current domestic safeguards regulations is summarized, from the perspective of an operating licensee nuclear fuel facility, in terms of timing, basis and need. Principal aspects of material accounting and physical security as independent approaches to safeguards control are described and analyzed in terms of overlap and effectiveness. Concerns with the licensee safeguards regulatory process are discussed, and development needs are identified. Recommendations are made which contribute to the evolution and improvement of safeguards based on a \"top-down\" systems approach to regulation using proven accounting, physical control and security principles to attain defined objectives.