International Atomic Energy Agency
Information Circular
(Unofficial electronic edition)
|
INFCIRC/66/Rev.2
16 September 1968
GENERAL Distr.
Original: ENGLISH
|
The Agency's Safeguards System
(1965, as Provisionally Extended in 1966 and 1968)
- The Agency's safeguards system, as approved by the Board of
Governors in 1965, and provisionally extended in 1966 and 1968,
is set forth in this document for the information of all Members.
- The development of the system from 1961 onwards has been as
follows:
System | Set forth in
document |
|
Nature | Name |
|
The first system | The Agency's Safeguards System
(1961) | INFCIRC/26 |
The 1961 system as extended to cover large reactor
facilities | The Agency's Safeguards System (1961, as
Extended in 1964) | INFCIRC/26 and Add.1 |
The revised system | The Agency's Safeguards System
(1965) | INFCIRC/66 |
The revised system with additional provisions for
reprocessing plants | The Agency's Safeguards System (1965
as Provisionally Extended in 1966) | INFCIRC/66/Rev.1 |
The revised system with further additional provisions for
safeguarded nuclear material in conversion plants and fabrication
plants | The Agency's Safeguards System (1965, as
Provisionally Extended in 1966 and
1968) | INFCIRC/66/Rev.2 |
|
The Agency's Safeguards System
(1965, as Provisionally Extended in 1966 and 1968)
I. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
A. THE PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT
- Pursuant to Article II of its Statute the Agency has the
task of seeking "to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of
atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the
world". Inasmuch as the technology of nuclear energy for
peaceful purposes is closely coupled with that for the
production of materials for nuclear weapons, the same Article
of the Statute provides that the Agency "shall ensure, so far
as it is able, that assistance provided by it or at its
request or under its supervision or control is not used in
such a way as to further any military purpose".
- The principal purpose of the present document is to
establish a system of controls to enable the Agency to comply
with this statutory obligation with respect to the activities
of Member States in the field of the peaceful uses of nuclear
energy, as provided in the Statute. The authority to
establish such a system is provided by Article III.A.5. of the
Statute, which authorizes the Agency to "establish and
administer safeguards designed to ensure that special
fissionable and other materials, services, equipment,
facilities, and information made available by the Agency or
at its request or under its supervision or control are not
used in such a way as to further any military purpose". This
Article further authorizes the Agency to "apply safeguards, at
the request of the parties, to any bilateral or multilateral
arrangement, or at the request of a State, to any of that
State's activities in the field of atomic energy". Article
XII.A sets forth the rights and responsibilities that the
Agency is to have, to the extent relevant, with respect to any
project or arrangement which it is to safeguard.
- The principles set forth in this document and the
procedures for which it provides are established for the
information of Member States, to enable them to determine in
advance the circumstances and manner in which the Agency would
administer safeguards, and for the guidance of the organs of
the Agency itself, to enable the Board and the Director
General to determine readily what provisions should be
included in agreements relating to safeguards and how to
interpret such provisions.
- Provisions of this document that are relevant to a
particular project, arrangement or activity in the field of
nuclear energy will only become legally binding upon the entry
into force of a safeguards agreement* and to the extent that they are
incorporated therein. Such incorporation may be made by
reference.
- Appropriate provisions of this document may also be
incorporated in bilateral or multilateral arrangements between
Member States, including all those that provide for the
transfer to the Agency of responsibility for administering
safeguards. The Agency will not assume such responsibility
unless the principles of the safeguards and the procedures to
be used are essentially consistent with those set forth in
this document.
- Agreements incorporating provisions from the earlier
version of the Agency's safeguards system (set forth in documents
INFCIRC/26 and Add.1) will continue to be
administered in accordance with such provisions, unless all
States parties thereto request the Agency to substitute the
provisions of the present document.
- Provisions relating to types of principal nuclear
facilities, other than reactors, which may produce,
process or use safeguarded nuclear material will be
developed as necessary.
- The principles and procedures set forth in this document
shall be subject to periodic review in the light of the
further experience gained by the Agency as well as of
technological developments.
B. GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE AGENCY'S SAFEGUARDS
The Agency's obligations
- Bearing in mind Article II of the Statute, the Agency
shall implement safeguards in a manner designed to avoid
hampering a State's economic or technical development.
- The safeguards procedures set forth in this document
shall be implemented in a manner designed to be consistent
with prudent management practices required for the economic
and safe conduct of nuclear activities.
- In no case shall the Agency request a State to stop the
construction or operation of any principal nuclear
facility to which the Agency's safeguards procedures extend,
except by explicit decision of the Board.
- The State or States concerned and the Director General
shall hold consultations regarding the application of the
provisions of the present document.
- In implementing safeguards, the Agency shall take every
precaution to protect commercial and industrial secrets. No
member of the Agency's staff shall disclose, except to the
Director General and to such other members of the staff as the
Director General may authorize to have such information by
reason of their official duties in connection with safeguards,
any commercial or industrial secret or any other confidential
information coming to his knowledge by reason of the
implementation of safeguards by the Agency.
- The Agency shall not publish or communicate to any State,
organization or person any information obtained by it in
connection with the implementation of safeguards, except that:
-
(a) Specific information relating to such implementation in a
State may be given to the Board and to such Agency staff
members as require such knowledge by reason of their official
duties in connection with safeguards, but only to the extent
necessary for the Agency to fulfil its safeguards
responsibilities;
- (b) Summarized lists of items being safeguarded by the
Agency may be published upon decision of the Board; and
- (c) Additional information may be published upon decision of
the Board and if all States directly concerned agree.
Principles of implementation
- The Agency shall implement safeguards in a State if:
-
(a) The Agency has concluded with the State a project
agreement under which materials, services, equipment,
facilities or information are supplied, and such agreement
provides for the application of safeguards; or
- (b) The State is a party to a bilateral or multilateral
arrangement under which materials, services, equipment,
facilities or information are supplied or otherwise
transferred, and:
-
(i) All the parties to the arrangement have requested the
Agency to administer safeguards; and
- (ii) The Agency has concluded the necessary safeguards
agreement with the State; or
-
(c) The Agency has been requested by the State to safeguard
certain nuclear activities under the latter's jurisdiction,
and the Agency has concluded the necessary safeguards
agreement with the State.
- In the light of Article XII.A.5 of the Statute, it is
desirable that safeguards agreements should provide for
the continuation of safeguards, subject to the provisions of this
document, with respect to produced special fissionable
material and to any materials substituted therefor.
- The principal factors to be considered by the Board in
determining the relevance of particular provisions of this
document to various types of materials and facilities shall be
the form, scope and amount of the assistance supplied, the
character of each individual project and the degree to which
such assistance could further any military purposes. The
related safeguards agreement shall take account of all
pertinent circumstances at the time of its conclusion.
- In the event of any non-compliance by a State with a
safeguards agreement, the Agency may take the measures set
forth in Articles XII.A.7 and XII.C of the Statute.
II. CIRCUMSTANCES REQUIRING SAFEGUARDS
A. NUCLEAR MATERIALS SUBJECT TO SAFEGUARDS
- Except as provided in paragraphs 21 - 28, nuclear
material shall be subject to the Agency's safeguards if it is
being or has been:
-
(a) Supplied under a project agreement; or
- (b) Submitted to safeguards under a safeguards
agreement by the parties to a bilateral or multilateral
arrangement; or
- (c) Unilaterally submitted to safeguards under a
safeguards agreement; or
- (d) Produced, processed or used in a principal nuclear
facility which has been:
-
(i) Supplied wholly or substantially under a project
agreement; or
- (ii) Submitted to safeguards under a safeguards
agreement by the parties to a bilateral or multilateral
arrangement; or
- (iii) Unilaterally submitted to safeguards under a
safeguards agreement; or
-
(e) Produced in or by the use of safeguarded nuclear
material; or
- (f) Substituted, pursuant to paragraph 26(d), for
safeguarded nuclear material.
- A principal nuclear facility shall be considered as
substantially supplied under a project agreement if the
Board
has so determined.
B. EXEMPTIONS FROM SAFEGUARDS
General exemptions
- Nuclear material that would otherwise be subject to
safeguards shall be exempted from safeguards at the request of
the State concerned, provided that the material so exempted in
that State may not at any time exceed:
-
(a) 1 kilogram in total of special fissionable material,
which may consist of one or more of the following:
-
(i) Plutonium;
- (ii) Uranium with an enrichment of 0.2 (20%) and
above, taken account of by multiplying its weight by its
enrichment;
- (iii) Uranium with an enrichment below 0.2 (20%) and
above that of natural uranium taken account of by multiplying its
weight by five time the square of its enrichment;
-
(b) 10 metric tons in total of natural uranium and depleted
uranium with an enrichment above 0.005 (0.5%);
- (c) 20 metric tons of depleted uranium with an
enrichment of 0.005 (0.5%) or below; and
- (d) 20 metric tons of thorium.
Exemptions related to reactors
- Produced or used nuclear material that would otherwise
be subject to safeguards pursuant to paragraph 19(d) or (e) shall
be exempted from safeguards if:
-
(a) It is plutonium produced in the fuel of a reactor
whose rate of production does not exceed 100 grams of plutonium
per year; or
- (b) It is produced in a reactor determined by the
Agency to have a maximum calculated power for continuous
operation of less than 3 thermal megawatts, or is used in such a
reactor and would not be subject to safeguards except for
such use, provided that the total power of the reactors
with respect to which these exemptions apply in any State may not
exceed 6 thermal megawatts.
- Produced special fissionable material that would
otherwise be subject to safeguards pursuant only to paragraph
19(e) shall in part be exempted from safeguards if it is
produced in a reactor in which the ratio of fissionable
isotopes within safeguarded nuclear material to all
fissionable isotopes is less than 0.3 (calculated each time
any change is made in the loading of the reactor and
assumed to be maintained until the next such change). Such
fraction of the produced material as corresponds to the
calculated ratio shall be subject to safeguards.
C. SUSPENSION OF SAFEGUARDS
- Safeguards with respect to nuclear material may be
suspended while the material is transferred, under an
arrangement or agreement approved by the Agency, for the
purpose of processing, reprocessing, testing, research or
development, within the State concerned or to any other Member
State or to an international organization, provided that the
quantities of nuclear material with respect to which
safeguards are thus suspended in a State may not at any time
exceed;
-
(a) 1 effective kilogram of special fissionable material;
- (b) 10 metric tons in total of natural uranium and depleted
uranium with an enrichment above 0.005 (0.5%);
- (c) 20 metric tons of depleted uranium with an
enrichment of 0.005 (0.5%) or below; and
- (d) 20 metric tons of thorium.
- Safeguards with respect to nuclear material in
irradiated fuel which is transferred for the purpose of
reprocessing may also be suspended if the State or States
concerned have, with the agreement of the Agency, placed under
safeguards substitute nuclear material in accordance with
paragraph 26(d) for the period of suspension. In addition,
safeguards with respect to plutonium contained in irradiated fuel
which is transferred for the purpose of reprocessing may be
suspended for a period not to exceed six months if the State or
States concerned have, with the agreement of the Agency, placed
under safeguards a quantity of uranium whose enrichment in
the isotope uranium-235 is not less than 0.9 (90%) and the
uranium-235 content of which is equal in weight to such
plutonium. Upon expiration of the said six months or the
completion of reprocessing, whichever is earlier, safeguards
shall, with the agreement of the Agency, be applied to such
plutonium and shall cease to apply to the uranium substituted
there for.
D. TERMINATION OF SAFEGUARDS
- Nuclear material shall no longer be subject to
safeguards after:
-
(a) It has been returned to the State that originally supplied
it (whether directly or through the Agency), if it was subject to
safeguards only by reason of such supply and if:
- (i) It was not improved while under safeguards; or
- (ii) Any special fissionable material that was produced in
it under safeguards has been separated out, or safeguards with
respect to such produced material have been terminated; or
- (b) The Agency has determined that:
- (i) It was subject to safeguards only by reason of its use
in a principal nuclear facility specified in paragraph
19(d);
- (ii) It has been removed from such a facility; and
- (iii) Any special fissionable material that was produced in
it under safeguards has been separated out, or safeguards with
respect to such produced material have been terminated; or
-
(c) The Agency has determined that it has been consumed, or has
been diluted in such a way that it is no longer usable for any
nuclear activity relevant from the point of view of safeguards,
or has become practicably irrecoverable; or
- (d) The State or States concerned have, with the agreement
of the Agency, placed under safeguards, as a substitute, such
amount of the same element, not otherwise subject to safeguards,
as the Agency has determined contains fissionable isotopes:
-
(i) Whose weight (with due allowance for processing losses) is
equal to or greater than the weight of the fissionable isotopes
of the material with respect to which safeguards are to
terminate; and
-
(ii) Whose ratio by weight to the total substituted element is
similar to or greater than the ratio by weight of the fissionable
isotopes of the material with respect to which safeguards are to
terminate to the total weight of such material;
provided that the Agency any agree to the substitution of
plutonium for uranium-235 contained in uranium whose
enrichment is not greater than 0.05 (5.0%); or
-
(e) It has been transferred out of the State under paragraph
28(d), provided that such material shall again be subject to
safeguards if it is returned to the State in which the Agency had
safeguarded it; or
- (f) The conditions specified in the safeguards
agreement, pursuant to which it was subject to Agency
safeguards, no longer apply, by expiration of the agreement or
otherwise.
- If a State wishes to use safeguarded source material for
non-nuclear purposes, such as the production of alloys or
ceramics, it shall agree with the Agency on the circumstances
under which the safeguards on such material may be terminated.
E. TRANSFER OF SAFEGUARDED NUCLEAR MATERIAL OUT OF THE STATE
- No safeguarded nuclear material shall be transferred
outside the jurisdiction of the State in which it is being
safeguarded until the Agency has satisfied itself that one or
more of the following conditions apply:
-
(a) The material is being returned, under the conditions
specified in paragraph 26(a), to the State that originally
supplied it; or
- (b) The material is being transferred subject to the
provisions of paragraph 24 or 25; or
- (c) Arrangements have been made by the Agency to safeguard
the material in accordance with this document in the State to
which it is being transferred; or
- (d) The material was not subject to safeguards pursuant to a
project agreement and will be subject, in the State to
which it is being transferred, to safeguards other than those of
the Agency but generally consistent with such safeguards and
accepted by the Agency.
III. SAFEGUARDS PROCEDURES
A. GENERAL PROCEDURES
Introduction
- The safeguards procedures set forth below shall be followed,
as far as relevant, with respect to safeguarded nuclear
materials, whether they are being produced, processed or used
in any principal nuclear facility or are outside any such
facility. These procedures also extend to facilities containing
or to contain such materials, including principal nuclear
facilities to which the criteria in paragraph 19(d) apply.
Design review
- The Agency shall review the design of principal nuclear
facilities, for the sole purpose of satisfying itself that a
facility will permit the effective application of safeguards.
- The design review of a principal nuclear facility
shall take place at as early a stage as possible. In particular,
such review shall be carried out in the case of:
-
(a) An Agency project, before the project is approved;
-
(b) A bilateral or multilateral arrangement under which the
responsibility for administering safeguards is to be transferred
to the Agency, or an activity unilaterally submitted by a
State, before the Agency assumes safeguards responsibilities with
respect to the facility;
- (c) A transfer of safeguarded nuclear material to a
principal nuclear facility whose design has not previously
been reviewed, before such transfer takes place; and
- (d) A significant modification of a principal nuclear
facility whose design has previously been reviewed, before
such modification is undertaken.
- To enable the Agency to perform the required design review,
the State shall submit to it relevant design information
sufficient for the purpose, including information on such basic
characteristics of the principal nuclear facility as may
bear on the Agency's safeguards procedures. The Agency shall
require only the minimum amount of information and data
consistent with carrying out its responsibility under this
section. It shall complete the review promptly after the
submission of this information by the State and shall notify the
latter of its conclusions without delay.
Records
- The State shall arrange for the keeping of records with
respect to principal nuclear facilities and also with
respect to all safeguarded nuclear material outside such
facilities. For this purpose the State and the Agency shall
agree on a system of records with respect to each facility and
also with respect to such material, on the basis of proposals to
be submitted by the State in sufficient time to allow the Agency
to review them before the records need to be kept.
- If the records are not kept in one of the working languages
of the Board, the State shall make arrangements to facilitate
their examination by inspectors.
- The records shall consist, as appropriate, of:
-
(a) Accounting records of all safeguarded nuclear
material; and
- (b) Operating records for principal nuclear
facilities.
- All records shall be retained for at least two years.
Reports
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
- The State shall submit to the Agency reports with respect
to the production, processing and use of safeguarded nuclear
material in or outside principal nuclear facilities.
For this purpose the State and the Agency shall agree on a system
of reports with respect to each facility and also with respect to
safeguarded nuclear material outside such facilities, on
the basis of proposals to be submitted by the State in sufficient
time to allow the Agency to review them before the reports need
to be submitted. The reports need include only such information
as is relevant for the purpose of safeguards.
- Unless otherwise provided in the applicable safeguards
agreement, reports shall be submitted in one of the working
languages of the Board.
ROUTINE REPORTS
- Routine reports shall be based on the records compiled in
accordance with paragraphs 33-36 and shall consist, as
appropriate, of:
-
(a) Accounting reports showing the receipt, transfer out,
inventory and use of all safeguarded nuclear material.
The inventory shall indicate the nuclear and chemical composition
and physical form of all material and its location on the date of
the report; and
- (b) Operating reports showing the use that has been made of
each principal nuclear facility since the last report and,
as far as possible, the programme of future work in the period
until the next routine reports is expected to reach the Agency.
- The first routine reports shall be submitted as soon as:
-
(a) There is any safeguarded nuclear material to be
accounted for; or
- (b) The principal nuclear facility to which it
relates is in a condition to operate.
PROGRESS IN CONSTRUCTION
- The Agency may, if so provided in a safeguards
agreement, request information as to when particular stages
in the construction of a principal nuclear facility have
been or are to be reached.
SPECIAL REPORTS
- The State shall report to the Agency without delay:
- (a) If any unusual incident occurs involving actual or
potential loss or destruction of, or damage to, any safeguarded
nuclear material or principal nuclear facility; or
- (b) If there is good reason to believe that safeguarded
nuclear material is lost or unaccounted for in quantities
that exceed the normal operating and handling losses that have
been accepted by the Agency as characteristic of the facility.
- The State shall report to the Agency, as soon as possible,
and in any case within two weeks, any transfer not requiring
advance notification that will result in a significant change (to
be defined by the Agency in agreement with the State) in the
quantity of safeguarded nuclear material in a facility, or
in a complex of facilities considered as a unit for this purpose
by agreement with the Agency. Such report shall indicate the
amount and nature of the material and its intended use.
AMPLIFICATION OF REPORTS
- At the Agency's request the State shall submit
amplifications of clarifications of any report, in so far as
relevant for the purpose of safeguards.
Inspections
GENERAL PROCEDURES
- The Agency may inspect safeguarded nuclear materials
and principal nuclear facilities.
- The purpose of safeguards inspections shall be to verify
compliance with safeguards agreements and to assist States
in complying with such agreements and in resolving any questions
arising out of the implementation of safeguards.
- The number, duration and intensity of inspections actually
carried out shall be kept to the minimum consistent with the
effective implementation of safeguards, and if the Agency
considers that the authorized inspections are not all required,
fewer shall be carried out.
- Inspectors shall neither operate any facility themselves nor
direct the staff of a facility to carry out any particular
operation.
ROUTINE INSPECTIONS
- Routine inspections may include, as appropriate:
-
(a) Audit of records and reports;
- (b) Verification of the amount of safeguarded nuclear
material by physical inspection, measurement and sampling;
- (c) Examination of principal nuclear facilities,
including a check of their measuring instruments and operating
characteristics; and
- (d) Check of the operations carried out at principal
nuclear facilities and at research and development
facilities containing safeguarded nuclear material.
- Whenever the Agency has the right of access to a principal
nuclear facility at all times (see paragraph 57), it
may perform inspections of which notice as required by paragraph
4 of the Inspectors Document need not be given, in so far
as this is necessary for the effective application of safeguards.
The actual procedures to implement these provisions shall be
agreed upon between the parties concerned in the safeguards
agreement.
INITIAL INSPECTIONS OF PRINCIPAL NUCLEAR FACILITIES
- To verify that the construction of a principal nuclear
facility is in accordance with the design reviewed by the
Agency, an initial inspection or inspections of the facility may
be carried out, if so provided in a safeguards agreement:
-
(a) As soon as possible after the facility has come under Agency
safeguards, in the case of a facility already in operation; or
- (b) Before the facility starts to operate, in other cases.
- The measuring instruments and operating characteristics of
the facility shall be reviewed to the extent necessary for the
purpose of implementing safeguards. Instruments that will be
used to obtain data on the nuclear materials in the
facility may be tested to determine their satisfactory
functioning. Such testing may include the observation by
inspectors of commissioning or routine test by the staff of the
facility, but shall not hamper or delay the construction,
commissioning or normal operation of the facility.
SPECIAL INSPECTIONS
- The Agency may carry out special inspections if:
-
(a) The study of a report indicates that such inspection is
desirable; or
- (b) Any unforeseen circumstances requires immediate action.
The Board shall subsequently be informed of the reasons for and
the results of each such inspection.
- The Agency may also carry out special inspections of
substantial amount of safeguarded nuclear material that
are to be transferred outside the jurisdiction of the State in
which it is being safeguarded, for which purpose the State shall
give the Agency sufficient advance notice of any such proposed
transfer.
B. SPECIAL PROCEDURES FOR REACTORS
Reports
- The frequency of submission of routine reports shall be
agreed between the Agency and the State, taking into account the
frequency established for routine inspections. However, at least
two such reports shall be submitted each year and in no case
shall more than 12 such reports be required in any year.
Inspections
- One of the initial inspections of a reactor shall if
possible be made just before the reactor first reaches
criticality.
- The maximum frequency of routine
inspections of a reactor and of the safeguarded nuclear
material in it shall be determined from the following table:
|
Whichever is the largest of:
(a) Facility inventory (including loading);
(b) Annual throughput;
(c) Maximum potential annual production of special fissionable
material
(Effective kilograms of nuclear material) |
Maximum number
of routine inspections
annually |
|
Up to 1
More than 1 and up to 5
More than 5 and up to 10
More than 10 and up to 15
More than 15 and up to 20
More than 20 and up to 25
More than 25 and up to 30
More than 30 and up to 35
More than 35 and up to 40
More than 40 and up to 45
More than 45 and up to 50
More than 50 and up to 55
More than 55 and up to 60
More than 60 |
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Right of access at all times
|
|
- The actual frequency of inspection of a reactor shall
take
account of:
-
(a) Whether the State possesses irradiated-fuel reprocessing
facilities;
- (b) The nature of the reactor; and
- (c) The nature and amount of the nuclear material
produced or used in the reactor.
C. SPECIAL PROCEDURES RELATING TO SAFEGUARDED NUCLEAR MATERIAL
OUTSIDE PRINCIPAL NUCLEAR FACILITIES
Nuclear material in research and development facilities
ROUTINE REPORTS
- Only accounting reports need be submitted in respect of
nuclear material in research and development
facilities. The frequency of submission of such routine
reports shall be agreed between the Agency and the State, taking
into account the frequency established for routine inspections;
however, at least one such report shall be submitted each year
and in no case shall more than 12 such reports be required in any
year.
ROUTINE INSPECTIONS
- The maximum frequency of routine inspections of safeguarded
nuclear material in a research and development
facility shall be that specified in the table in paragraph 57
for the total amount of material in the facility.
Source material in sealed storage
- The following simplified procedures for safeguarding
stockpiled source material shall be applied if a State undertakes
to store such material in a sealed storage facility and not to
remove it therefrom without previously informing the Agency.
DESIGN OF STORAGE FACILITIES
- The State shall submit to the Agency information on the
design of each sealed storage facility and agree with the Agency
on the method and procedure for sealing it.
ROUTINE REPORTS
- Two routine accounting reports in respect of source material
in sealed storage shall be submitted each year.
ROUTINE INSPECTIONS
- The Agency may perform one routine inspection of each sealed
storage facility annually.
REMOVAL OF MATERIAL
- The State may remove safeguarded source material from a
sealed storage facility after informing the Agency of the amount,
type and intended use of the material to be removed, and
providing sufficient other data in time to enable the Agency to
continue safeguarding the material after it has been removed.
Nuclear material in other locations
- Except to the extent that safeguarded nuclear material
outside of principal nuclear facilities is covered by any
of the provisions set forth in paragraphs 59-65, the following
procedures shall be applied with respect to such material (for
example, source material stored elsewhere than in a sealed
storage facility, or special fissionable material used in a
sealed neutron source in the field).
ROUTINE REPORTS
- Routine accounting reports in respect of all safeguarded
nuclear material in this category shall be submitted
periodically. The frequency of submission of such reports shall
be agreed between the Agency and the State, taking into account
the frequency established for routine inspections; however, at
least one such report shall be submitted each year and in no case
shall more than 12 such reports be required in any year.
ROUTINE INSPECTIONS
- The maximum frequency of routine inspections of safeguarded
nuclear material in this category shall be one inspection
annually if the total amount of such material does not exceed
five effective kilograms, and shall be determined from the
table in paragraph 57 if the amount is greater.
IV. DEFINITIONS
- "Agency" means the International Atomic Energy Agency.
- "Board" means the Board of Governors.
- "Director General" means the Director General of the
Agency.
- "Effective kilograms" means:
-
(a) In the case of plutonium, its weight in kilograms;
- (b) In the case of uranium with an enrichment of 0.01
(1%) and above, its weight in kilograms multiplied by the square
of its enrichment;
- (c) In the case of uranium with an enrichment below
0.01 (1%) and above 0.005 (0.5%), its weight in kilograms
multiplied by 0.0001; and
- (d) In the case of depleted uranium with an
enrichment of 0.005 (0.5%) or below, and in the case of
thorium, its weight in kilograms multiplied by 0.00005.
- "Enrichment" means the ratio of the combined weight of the
isotopes uranium-233 and uranium-235 to that of the total uranium
in question.
- "Improved" means, with respect to nuclear material,
that either:
- (a) The concentration of fissionable isotopes in it has
increased; or
- (b) The amount of chemically separable fissionable isotopes
in it has been increased; or
- (c) Its chemical or physical form has been changed so as to
facilitate further use or processing.
- "Inspector" means an Agency official designated in
accordance with the Inspectors Document.
- "Inspectors Document" means the Annex to the Agency document
GC(V)/INF/39.
- "Nuclear material" means any source or special fissionable
material as defined in Article XX of the Statute.
- "Principal nuclear facility" means a reactor, a plant
for processing nuclear material, irradiated in a
reactor, a plant for separating the isotopes of a nuclear
material, a plant for processing or fabricating nuclear
material (excepting a mine or ore-processing plant) or a
facility or plant of such other type as may be designated by the
Board from time to time, including associated storage facilities.
- "Project agreement" mans a safeguards agreement
relating to an Agency project and containing provisions as
foreseen in Article XI.F.4(b) of the Statute.
- "Reactor" means any device in which a controlled, self-
sustaining fission chain-reaction can be maintained.
- "Research and development facility" means a facility, other
than a principal nuclear facility, used for research or
development in the field of nuclear energy.
- "Safeguards agreement" means an agreement between the Agency
and one or more Member States which contains an undertaking by
one or more of those States not to use certain items in such a
way as to further any military purpose and which gives the Agency
the right to observe compliance with such undertaking. Such an
agreement may concern:
-
(a) An Agency project;
-
(b) A bilateral or multilateral arrangement in the field of
nuclear energy under which the Agency may be asked to administer
safeguards; or
- (c) Any of a State's nuclear activities unilaterally
submitted to Agency safeguards.
- "Statute" means the Statute of the Agency.
- "Throughput" means the rate at which nuclear material
is introduced into a facility operating at full capacity.
- "Unilaterally submitted" means submitted by a State to
Agency safeguards, pursuant to a safeguards agreement.
ANNEX I
PROVISIONS FOR REPROCESSING PLANTS
INTRODUCTION
- The Agency's Safeguards System (1965) is so formulated as to
permit application to principal nuclear facilities other
than reactors as foreseen in paragraph 7. This Annex lays
down the additional procedures which are applicable to the
safeguarding of reprocessing plants. However, because of
the possible need to revise these procedures in the light of
experience, they shall be subject to review at any time and shall
in any case be reviewed after two years' experience of their
application has been gained.
SPECIAL PROCEDURES
Reports
- The frequency of submission of routine reports shall be once
each calendar month.
Inspections
- A reprocessing plant having an annual
throughput not exceeding 5 effective kilograms of
nuclear material, and the safeguarded nuclear
material in it, may be routinely inspected twice a year. A
reprocessing plant having an annual throughput
exceeding 5 effective kilograms of nuclear
material, and the safeguarded nuclear material in it,
may be inspected at all times. The arrangements for inspections
set forth in paragraph 50 shall apply to all inspections to be
made under this paragraph (It is understood that for plants
having an annual thoughput of more than 60 effective
kilograms, the right of access at all times would be normally
be implemented by means of continuous inspection.)
- When a reprocessing plant is under Agency safeguards
only because it contains safeguarded nuclear material, the
inspection frequency shall be based on the rate of delivery of
safeguarded nuclear material.
- The State and the Agency shall co-operate in making all the
necessary arrangements to facilitate the taking, shipping or
analysis of samples, due account being taken of the limitations
imposed by the characteristics of a plant already in operation
when placed under Agency safeguards.
Mixtures of safeguarded and unsafeguarded nuclear material
- By agreement between the State and the Agency, the following
special arrangements may be made in the case of a reprocessing
plant to which the criteria in paragraph 19(d) do not apply,
and in which safeguarded and unsafeguarded nuclear
materials are present:
-
(a) Subject to the provisions of sub-paragraph (b) below, the
Agency shall restrict its safeguards procedures to the area in
which irradiated fuel is stored, until such time as all or any
part of such fuel is transferred out of the storage area into
other parts of the plant. Safeguards procedures shall cease to
apply to the storage area or plant when either contains no
safeguarded nuclear material; and
- (b) Where possible safeguarded nuclear material shall
be measured and sampled separately from unsafeguarded material,
and at as early a stage as possible. Where separate measurement,
sampling or processing are not possible, the whole of the
material being processed in that campaign shall be subject
to the safeguards procedures set out in this Annex. At the
conclusion of the processing the nuclear material that is
thereafter to be safeguarded shall be selected by agreement
between the State and the Agency from the whole output of the
plant resulting from that campaign, due account being
taken of any processing losses accepted by the Agency.
- "Reprocessing plant"** means a
facility to separate irradiated nuclear materials and
fission products, and includes the facility's head-end treatment
section and its associated storage and analytical sections.
- "Campaign" means the period during which the chemical
processing equipment in a reprocessing plant is operated
between two successive wash-outs of the nuclear material
present in the equipment.
ANNEX II
PROVISIONS FOR SAFEGUARDED NUCLEAR MATERIAL IN CONVERSION PLANTS
AND FABRICATION PLANTS
INTRODUCTION
- The Agency's Safeguards System (1965, as Provisionally
Extended in 1966) is so formulated as to permit application to
principal nuclear facilities other than reactors as
foreseen in paragraph 7. This Annex lays down the additional
procedures which are applicable to safeguarded nuclear
material in conversion plants and fabrication
plants***). However, because of
the possible need to revise these procedures in the light of
experience, they shall be subject to review at any time and shall
in any case be reviewed after two years' experience of their
application has been gained.
SPECIAL PROCEDURES
Reports
- The frequency of submission of routine reports shall be once
each calendar month.
Inspections
- A conversion plant or fabrication plant to
which the criteria in paragraph 19(d) apply and the nuclear
material in it, may be inspected at all times if the plant
inventory at any item, or the annual input, of nuclear material
exceeds five effective kilograms. Where neither the
inventory at any time, nor the annual input, exceeds five
effective kilograms of nuclear material, the
routine inspections shall not exceed two a year. The arrangements
for inspections set forth in paragraph 50 shall apply to all
inspections to be made under this paragraph****.
- When a conversion plant or fabrication plant to
which the criteria in paragraph 19(d) do not apply contains
safeguarded nuclear material the frequency of routine
inspections shall be based on the inventory at any time and the
annual input of safeguarded nuclear material. Where the
inventory at any time, or the annual input, of safeguarded
nuclear material exceeds five effective kilograms
the plant may be inspected at all times. Where neither the
inventory at any time, nor the annual input, exceeds five
effective kilograms of safeguarded nuclear material
the routine inspections shall not exceed two a year. The
arrangements for inspection set forth in paragraph 50 shall apply
to all inspections to be made under this paragraph.
- The intensity of inspection of safeguarded nuclear
material at various steps in a conversion plant or
fabrication plant shall take account of the nature,
isotopic composition and amount of safeguarded nuclear
material in the plant. Safeguards shall be applied in
accordance with the general principles set forth in paragraphs
9-14. Emphasis shall be placed on inspection to control uranium
of high enrichments and plutonium.
- Where a plant may handle safeguarded and unsafeguarded
nuclear material, the State shall notify the Agency in
advance of the programme for handling safeguarded batches to
enable the Agency to make inspections during these periods, due
account being also taken of the arrangements under paragraph 10
below.
- The State and the Agency shall co-operate in making all the
necessary arrangements to facilitate the preparation of
inventories of safeguarded nuclear material and the
taking, shipping and/or analysis of samples, due account being
taken of the limitations imposed by the characteristics of a
plant already in operation when placed under Agency safeguards.
Residues scrap and waste
- The State shall ensure that safeguarded nuclear
material contained in residues, scrap or waste created during
conversion or fabrication is recovered, as far as is practicable,
in its facilities and within a reasonable period of time. If
such recovery is not considered practicable by the State, the
State and the Agency shall co-operate in making arrangements to
account for and dispose of the material.
Safeguarded and unsafeguarded nuclear material
- By agreement between the State and the Agency, the following
special arrangements may be made in the case of a conversion
plant or a fabrication plant to which the criteria in
paragraph 19(d) do not apply, and in which safeguarded and
unsafeguarded nuclear material are both present:
- (a) Subject to the provisions of sub-paragraph (b) below,
the Agency shall restrict its safeguards procedures to the area
in which safeguarded nuclear material is stored, until
such time as all or any part of such nuclear material is
transferred out of the storage area into other parts of the
plant. Safeguards procedures shall cease to be applied to the
storage area or plant when it contains no safeguarded nuclear
material; and
-
(b) Where possible, safeguarded nuclear material shall be
measured and sampled separately from unsafeguarded nuclear
material, and at as early a stage as possible. Where
separate measurement, sampling or processing is not possible, any
nuclear material containing safeguarded nuclear
material shall be subject to the safeguards procedures set
out in this Annex. At the conclusion of processing, the
nuclear material that is thereafter to be safeguarded
shall be selected, in accordance with paragraph 11 below when
applicable, by agreement between the State and the Agency, due
account being taken of any processing losses accepted by the
Agency.
Blending of nuclear material
- When safeguarded nuclear material is to be blended
with either safeguarded or unsafeguarded nuclear material,
the State shall notify the Agency sufficiently in advance of the
programme of blending to enable the Agency to exercise its right
to obtain evidence, through inspection of the blending operation
or otherwise, that the blending is performed according to the
programme.
- When safeguarded and unsafeguarded nuclear material
are blended, if the ratio of fissionable isotopes in the
safeguarded component going into the blend to all the fissionable
isotopes in the blend is 0.3 or greater, and if the concentration
of fissionable isotopes in the unsafeguarded nuclear material is
increased by such blending, then the whole blend shall remain
subject to safeguards. In other cases the following procedures
shall apply:
-
(a) Plutonium/plutonium blending. The quantity of the blend
that shall continue to be safeguarded shall be such that its
weight, when multiplied by the square of the weight fraction of
contained fissionable isotopes, is not less than the weight of
originally safeguarded plutonium multiplied by the square of the
weight fraction of fissionable isotopes therein, provided however
that:
-
(i) In cases where the weight of the whole blend, when
multiplied by the square of the weight fraction of contained
fissionable isotopes, is less than the weight of originally
safeguarded plutonium multiplied by the square of the weight
fraction of fissionable isotopes therein, the whole of the blend
shall be safeguarded; and
- (ii) The number of fissionable atoms in the portion of the
blend that shall continue to be under safeguards shall in no case
be less than the number of fissionable atoms in the originally
safeguarded plutonium;
- (b) Uranium/uranium blending. The quantity of the blend
that shall continue to be safeguarded shall be such that the
number of effective kilograms is not less than the number
of effective kilograms in the originally safeguarded
uranium, provided however that:
- (i) In cases where the number of effective kilograms
in the whole blend is less than in the safeguarded uranium, the
whole of the blend shall be safeguarded; and
- (ii) The number of fissionable atoms in the portion of the
blend that shall continue to be under safeguards shall in no case
be less than the number fissionable atoms in the originally
safeguarded uranium;
- (c) Uranium/plutonium blending. The whole of the resultant
blend shall be safeguarded until the uranium and the plutonium
constituents are separated. After separation of the uranium and
plutonium, safeguards shall apply to the originally safeguarded
component; and
- (d) Due account shall be taken of any processing losses
agreed upon between the State and the Agency.
DEFINITIONS
- "Conversion plant" means a facility (excepting a mine or
ore-processing plant) to improve unirradiated nuclear
material, or irradiated nuclear material that has been
separated from fission products, by changing its chemical or
physical form so as to facilitate further use or processing. The
term conversion plant includes the facility storage and
analytical sections. The term does not include a plant intended
for separating the isotopes of a nuclear material.
- "Fabrication plant" means a plant to manufacture fuel
elements or other components containing nuclear material
and
includes the plant's storage and analytical sections.
* The use of
italics indicates that a term has a specialized
meaning in this document and is defined in Part IV.
** This term is synonymous
with the term "a plant for
processing nuclear material irradiated in a reactor" which is
used in paragraph 78.
*** This terminology is
intended to be synonymous with the
term "a plant for processing or fabricating nuclear
material (excepting a mine or ore-processing plant") which is
used in paragraph 78.
****
It is understood that for plants having an inventory at
any time, or an annual input, of more than 60 effective
kilograms the right of access at all times would normally be
implemented by means of continuous inspection. Where neither the
inventory at any time nor the annual input exceeds one
effective kilogram of nuclear material the plant
would not normally be subject to routine inspection.