IAEA SAFEGUARDS ON U.S. EXCESS FISSILE MATERIAL

In September 1993, President Clinton announced an initiative to submit fissile material no longer needed for the U.S. deterrent to inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The United States must make a strong statement at the September 1994 IAEA General Conference regarding progress in carrying out this initiative. Since the president's offer was announced, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has made it a high priority to prepare for and implement IAEA safeguards on excess materials at some of its facilities. These facilities include storage locations at Oak Ridge, Hanford, and Rocky Flats. Current plans are to begin implementing IAEA safeguards at the Oak Ridge storage facility in September 1994, followed by implementation at Hanford beginning in December 1994 and at Rocky Flats in April 1995.