Safeguarding the IAEA Communications Process

The United States has been engaged in nuclear materials commerce since 1954. Information regarding these activities is recorded and tracked in the Nuclear Materials Management and Safeguard System (NMMSS). NMMSS data include export, import, and retransfer of U.S. nuclear materials located in foreign countries. In order to transmit these data to the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Commission), NMMSS has been using the IAEA-developed Safeguards Declaration Portal (SDP). Since the decision to implement the SDP (June 2022), NMMSS has been able to capitalize on substantial benefits offered by this new software including: near real time transmission of reports and associated IAEA feedback; edits to alert users that data entry fields may contain errors or omissions; an archival reference library of previous submittals; infrastructure protocols that allow for real-time notification of incoming IAEA communications; and a customizable U.S. stakeholders’ environment that formalizes the internal U.S. coordination, review, and approval process. Most importantly, the SDP has resulted in significantly reducing the number of false-error transit matching issues, thereby reducing NMMSS operating costs associated with investigating and resolving avoidable reporting concerns. This paper discusses the NMMSS experience in using the SDP to strengthen its IAEA reporting processes, provides suggestions for further program enhancements, and outlines NMMSS plans to utilize the SDP concept for other international NMMSS reporting and communications projects.