MANAGEMENT ACTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS TO IMPLEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING FOR INTERNATIONAL SAFEGUARDS

As a result of decisions made by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors on Programme 93+2, the IAEA’s Department of Safeguards has proceeded to implement and put into routine use environmental sampling for safeguards inspections. Routine use of environmental sampling and its implementation is requiring the IAEA to plan and standardize what and how to sample, identify what analyses are required, and how to interpret the results. Routine use is also requiring the IAEA to develop new operating procedures, new methods of data interpretation, establish new inspection procedures, etc. To effectively implement an environmental monitoring program in International Safeguards, actions and requirements to assist in the implementation, organization, and the identification of the program’s technical and management elements must be identified. These actions and requirements have been identified in a Management Action Plan or “MAP,” which can serve as a “blueprint” to guide overall implementation and budgeting for such a program. The MAP addresses those activities, requirements and organizational roles and responsibilities for a comprehensive environmental sampling program for international safeguards. This paper described the MAP and those activities and actions necessary to fully implement and operate environmental sampling in international safeguards.