DOE Preparations for Implementation of the Strengthened Safeguards System Protocol

The United States has completed negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on its Safeguards Protocol; this U.S. Protocol was approved by the IAEA Board of Governors and signed by the U.S. and IAEA in June 1998. The U.S. Protocol is identical in substance to the Model Protocol (INFCIRW40) except for subarticles that exclude activities of direct national security significance to the United States from Protocol implementation and explicitly provide for the use of managed access to protect national security activities. The immediate focus of the United States Department of Energy (DOE) regarding the Protocol implementation involves identifying declarable activities, providing the necessary access to DOE sites, and implementing the national security exclusion. DOE has been addressing these concerns through a Strengthened Safeguards System working group, which has coordinated field exercises, tutorials, and data calls to DOE operations offices. The Protocol will be submitted to the Senate for its advice and consent for ratification.