IMPLEMENTATION OF IAEA SAFEGUARDS IN THE U.S. THE REGULATORY VIEW

By now, most of you know that in 1967 the U.S. pledged to place its non-military nuclear operations under IAEA safeguards guardianship. President Johnson's offer was made to demonstrate to non-weapons states that it does not put a country at significant com- petitive disadvantage when it signs the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and places its nuclear operations under IAEA safeguards. Such an act of good faith on the part of the U.S., though we already possessed nuclear weapons, was felt helpful in encouraging others to sign the Treaty. In the ensuing decade, more than a hundred nations have become a party to the NPT. All U.S. Presidents since Lyndon Johnson have re-affirmed the U.S. pledge to subject ourselves to the same IAEA standards we endorse to our neighbors. The time draws near when we will be called upon to honor those commitments. Let me review what has been done to prepare for this partnership with IAEA and share with you some thoughts on what is yet required of licensees, NRCS and IAEA.