Quality Assurance for IAEA Inspection Planning

Under the provisions of the Treaty on Nonpro liferation of Nuclear Weapons and other agree ments with States, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducts inspections at nuclear facilities to confirm that their operation is consistent with the peaceful use of nuclear mate rial. The Department of Safeguards at the 1AKA is considering a quality assurance program for activities related to the planning of these facil ity inspections. in this report, we summarize recent work in writing standards for planning inspections at the types of facilities Inspected by the IAEA. The standards specify the sequence of steps in planning inspections, which are (1) administrative functions, such as arrangements for visas and travel, and communications with the State to confirm facility operating schedules and the State's acceptance of the assigned inspectors; (2) technical functions including a specification of the required inspection activities, determine tion of personnel and equipment resources, and a schedule for implementing the inspection activities at the facility; and (3) management functions, such as pre- and post-inspection briefings where the planned and implemented inspection activities are reviewed.