The Nuclear Safety and Nuclear Security Interface: Approaches and National Experiences

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• Publisher: International Atomic Energy Agency
• Year: 2021
• ISBN:
  9789201221209
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Mechanical Engineering
• Index: Technology & Engineering

This publication was developed from the exchange of information, experiences and practices by participating Member States at the IAEA Technical Meeting on the Safety and Security Interface — Approaches and National Experiences, held in Vienna in 2018. It aims to provide a better understanding of the important elements of the interface between nuclear safety and nuclear security for facilities and activities and to highlight the challenges, opportunities and good practices for its effective management when planning and implementing different programmes and activities.

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background

Nuclear safety and nuclear security are two closely related areas, and both have in common the aim of protecting human life and health and the environment [1, 2]. To meet this aim, nuclear safety measures and nuclear security measures have to be designed and implemented in an integrated manner, so that nuclear security measures do not compromise nuclear safety and conversely nuclear safety measures do not compromise nuclear security. The importance of addressing the nuclear safety and nuclear security interface is highlighted in:

(a) IAEA Safety Standards Series No. SF-1, Fundamental Safety Principles [1];

(b) IAEA Nuclear Security Series No. 20, Objective and Essential Elements of a State’s Nuclear Security Regime [2];

(c) INSAG-24, The Interface between Safety and Security at Nuclear Power Plants [3].

While the responsibility for nuclear safety and nuclear security within a State rests entirely with that State, the central role of the IAEA in promoting international cooperation in this area is widely recognized.

The IAEA General Conference and the Board of Governors highlighted the importance of the nuclear safety and nuclear security interface and requested the IAEA to continue to facilitate, in close cooperation with Member States, a coordination process to address the interfaces in a timely manner [4].

It is against this backdrop that the IAEA Secretariat organized the Technical Meeting on the Safety and Security Interface — Approaches and National Experiences, from 29 October to 1 November 2018, at IAEA Headquarters, in Vienna. The meeting was attended by over 120 participants from 64 Member States, representing governments, competent authorities, regulatory bodies and operators, among others. The high level of participation reflects the continuing importance attached to addressing the interface between nuclear safety and nuclear security and the value that Member States placed on the forum provided by the meeting.

The meeting provided an opportunity for participants from all IAEA Member States to discuss issues, challenges and solutions related to addressing the nuclear safety and nuclear security interface. The meeting focused on sharing views, information, knowledge and experience. The specific objectives of the meeting were:

(a) To identify and present the technical elements of nuclear safety and nuclear security interfaces and approaches to addressing the interface in facilities and activities implemented by governments, competent authorities, regulatory bodies, operators and users in Member States;

(b) To identify challenges, gaps and good practices in this area;

(c) To recommend activities that address nuclear safety and nuclear security interfaces in such a way that nuclear security measures do not compromise nuclear safety and that nuclear safety measures do not compromise nuclear security.

The meeting included plenary as well as five technical sessions with presentations by selected speakers drawn from Member States having experience with a broad range of facilities and activities. This ranged from Member States whose activities involve the use of radioactive sources, to those embarking on a nuclear power programme and to those with operating nuclear power plants. Five working groups addressing the same topics as the technical sessions provided further opportunities to discuss the issues in more detail. A Co-Chair presentation summarizing the meeting was produced.

While it is a common goal of Member States to address the interface between nuclear safety and nuclear security, there are a range of different approaches being used by Member States to achieve this goal. These different approaches reflect the circumstances prevailing in Member States, such as the nature and scale of the facilities and activities being operated or undertaken and the nature of the national legal framework. It was not the purpose of the meeting to provide Member States with model approaches to addressing the interface between nuclear safety and nuclear security. The participants were clear that the views expressed during the meeting did not represent a consensus and that some Members States intend to retain their current arrangements for addressing the nuclear safety and nuclear security interface.

The five technical sessions covered the following topical areas:

— Legal and regulatory framework;

— Nuclear installations;

— Radioactive sources and associated facilities and activities;

— Management systems and nuclear safety and nuclear security culture;

— Emergency preparedness and response.

The working groups were tasked with identifying the technical elements important to the nuclear safety and nuclear security interface as well as how they are being addressed by Member States. The participants identified challenges, gaps and good practices and made recommendations for potential activities to continue to facilitate a coordination process to address the nuclear safety and nuclear security interface. A list of these technical elements, with the associated challenges, gaps and good practices identified by the participants, is provided in Annex II.

This publication was prepared in light of the request for the IAEA to continue to facilitate a coordination process to address nuclear safety and nuclear security interfaces in Member States in a timely manner [4].

1.2. Objective

The objective of the publication is to summarize the information and experience provided by participants at the technical meeting on addressing the effective management of the interface between nuclear safety and nuclear security for facilities and activities. It aims to provide a better understanding of the important elements of the interface and to highlight the challenges, opportunities and good practices for its effective management when planning and implementing different programmes and activities.

1.3. Scope

This publication summarizes the output from the technical meeting, including the participants’ presentations during the five technica...

Table of contents

• 1. INTRODUCTION
• Annex I CO-CHAIR SUMMARY AND GENERAL CONCLUSIONS
• Annex II TECHNICAL ELEMENTS IMPORTANT TO THE NUCLEAR SAFETY AND NUCLEAR SECURITY INTERFACE
• Annex III LIST OF PRESENTATIONS
• Annex IV LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
• CO-CHAIRS AND SESSION CHAIRS AND EXPERTS
• CONTRIBUTORS TO DRAFTING AND REVIEW