Year
1994
Abstract
Recent world events have resulted in increased interest in enhancing international safeguards capabilities for detection of unauthorized uranium enrichment activities. The safeguards objectives of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) include detection of undeclared uranium enrichment facilities, undeclared enrichment activities at declared sites, and evidence of operations that have produced high-enriched uranium. New and enhanced safeguards techniques are needed to aid in meeting these objectives. Facilities that produce and/or process enriched uranium normally leave a unique signature in the environment in the form of isotopically altered uranium that is detectable in samples of soil, vegetation, and water by use of sensitive analytical techniques. Thus, environmental monitoring and sampling have been suggested as methods that can be used to help meet the safeguards objectives. Studies carried out over a period of years at U.S. enrichment facilities indicate that detection of enrichment facilities is possible from analysis of environmental samples taken at some distance from the site. In order to obtain data for evaluation of the potential applications of environmental sampling as a tool for use in international safeguards inspections, the IAEA is developing and conducting field trials in selected member State facilities. In March 1994, an environmental monitoring field trials workshop was held at the Oak Ridge K-25 Site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to aid the IAEA in planning for and conducting these field trials. Samples were also collected at the two operating U.S. gaseous diffusion plants to provide data for the U.S. field trails. The U.S. field trials are being used to evaluate sampling procedures, sample handling, and sample analysis techniques. Environmental samples collected during field trials in the U.S. enrichment facilities and facilities in other member States are currently being analyzed by national laboratories in the United States. The data from these samples, when available, will provide a basis for determining the feasibility of implementing environmental sampling as an inspection tool for detection of clandestine uranium enrichment activities.