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Nuclear Nonproliferation: National Nuclear Security Administration Has Improved the Security of Reactors in its Global Research Reactor Program, but Action Is Needed to Address Remaining Concerns

GAO-09-949 Published: Sep 17, 2009. Publicly Released: Sep 17, 2009.
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Highlights

Worldwide, about 165 research reactors use highly enriched uranium (HEU) fuel. Because HEU can also be used in nuclear weapons, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) established the Global Research Reactor Security (GRRS) program to make security upgrades at foreign research reactors whose security did not meet guidelines established by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). GAO was asked to assess (1) the status of NNSA's efforts to secure foreign research reactors, (2) the extent to which selected foreign research reactors with NNSA security upgrades meet IAEA's security guidelines, and (3) the extent to which NNSA coordinates the GRRS program with other countries and the IAEA. GAO reviewed NNSA and IAEA documents and visited five of the 22 research reactors in the GRRS program, which were selected on the basis of when upgrades had been completed and because the reactors still possess HEU.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected Recommendation Status
Department of Energy To resolve remaining security weaknesses at foreign research reactors that use HEU fuel, the Secretary of Energy should direct the Administrator of NNSA to, while continuing to emphasize and accelerate NNSA efforts to convert reactors to low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel use and return HEU fuel to its country of origin, work with foreign government officials and research reactor operators in countries where security upgrades are in progress or have been completed to take immediate action to address any remaining security weaknesses.
Closed – Implemented
NNSA has taken steps to implement our recommendation to improve the security of research reactors. For example, NNSA has taken action to improve the security of the research reactors in Serbia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, which were reactors that had weaknesses that we identified in our report. In addition, NNSA has taken action at other reactors in the Global Research Reactor Program to address remaining weaknesses. For example, NNSA has made several improvements to the security of the reactor in Salazar, Mexico, and the reactor in South Africa.
Department of Energy To resolve remaining security weaknesses at foreign research reactors that use HEU fuel, the Secretary of Energy should direct the Administrator of NNSA to, while continuing to emphasize and accelerate NNSA efforts to convert reactors to LEU fuel use and return HEU fuel to its country of origin, work with foreign government officials and research reactor operators in countries where security upgrades are in progress or have been completed to ensure that security policies and procedures, including those for emergency response to security incidents, fully meet IAEA guidelines.
Closed – Implemented
NNSA has taken steps to implement our recommendation to ensure that security policies and procedures, including those for emergency response to security incidents, fully meet IAEA guidelines. For example, NNSA has worked with the Czech Republic and Serbia to improve the effectiveness of on-site and off-site response forces at their research reactors. In addition, NNSA has assisted counties in meeting their security obligations and have conducted numerous table top exercises in specified counties to directly address GAO's recommendation.
Department of Energy To resolve remaining security weaknesses at foreign research reactors that use HEU fuel, the Secretary of Energy should direct the Administrator of NNSA, in cooperation with IAEA's Office of Nuclear Safety, to work with foreign regulatory agencies to encourage the development, where needed, of national security laws and regulations to ensure the safe and secure operation of research reactors, including licensing, inspection, and emergency exercise procedures, as called for in IAEA guidelines.
Closed – Implemented
NNSA has taken steps to implement our recommendation to encourage the development of national security laws and regulations to ensure the safe and secure operation of research reactors, including licensing, inspection, and emergency exercise procedures, as called for in IAEA guidelines. For example, NNSA has recently initiated a long term Sustainability Program jointly with the IAEA to assist many countries with reactors in the Global Research Reactor Program to ensure that physical protection upgrades at civilian sites possessing vulnerable nuclear and radiological materials are properly maintained and tested on a regular basis, staff is well-trained, and that a security culture is in place.

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Energy researchFacility securityForeign governmentsFuel researchInternational cooperationInternational organizationsNuclear facilitiesNuclear facility securityNuclear materialsNuclear proliferationNuclear reactorsPhysical securityResearch and development facilitiesResearch programsSecurities regulationUS government securitiesProgram evaluation