DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR THIRD PARTY INSPECTION ACTIVITIES FOR STORAGE FACILITIES*

Initiatives by the President and the Secretary of Energy to make available national excess special nuclear materials for third party inspection and verification required special design requirements to be considered for the reconfigured weapons complex storage facilities. The approach that will be taken in the design and operation will permit controlled access to all nuclear materials and related information that would not disclose or lead to disclosure of classified or proprietary information not obligated by treaty or other agreements. This approach would provide the third party inspectors with the information and capability to access designated materials while minimizing impact upon facility operations. These considerations would also give the federal government the flexibility to add new materials to the excess materials category list in the future. This paper will discuss the safeguards and security design impacts and features that are being anticipated for the storage facilities, both for possible new construction and upgrading existing facilities.