The work of nuclear safeguards inspectors
Nuclear safeguards are measures to verify that countries do not use nuclear materials in an improper manner, and that they fulfill their obligations under international non-proliferation treaties.
They are a set of technical measures applied to nuclear materials and activities; their purpose is to independently verify that nuclear sites abide by their commitment to non-proliferation and that the nuclear materials do not deviate from peaceful uses.
Legal framework of nuclear safeguards
In Europe, the Treaty on the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) establishes a safety control of nuclear materials and a common market for these with the Euratom Supply Agency (ESA). European Community inspectors verify the fulfillment of the safeguards and inspect the sites in compliance with Euratom's Commission Regulation No. 302/2005, which regulates these aspects under the nuclear safeguards law of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of the United Nations.
In the various applications of nuclear power for peaceful use (generation of electricity as well as medical, industrial and research applications, among others), there is handling of nuclear material that could be deflected for non-peaceful uses. Every person that handles nuclear material requires the corresponding administrative authorization, according to national regulations, and must notify this activity to the European Commission according to the European Community's regulations.
The Administration and European Commission must also be notified regarding the development of determined activities related to the nuclear fuel cycle, whether or not they involve nuclear material, in compliance with national regulations established by international commitments.
At the international level, IAEA applies the safeguard measures that derive from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) from the United Nations. This Treaty establishes, among other obligations, that States that do not have nuclear weapons must reach agreements with the IAEA for the application of their safeguards system.
Currently 190 countries with nuclear programs have signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
Nuclear safeguards inspectors
Inspections are carried out by nuclear safeguards inspectors, highly specialized professionals that travel around the world visiting nuclear sites.
The inspections comprise three areas:
- Materials – tracking all the incoming and outgoing transferences as well as the material flow in nuclear sites. This includes collecting samples and analyzing nuclear material, onsite inspections, revisions and verification of operative records.
- Physical safety – restricting access to nuclear materials at the sites.
- Contention and surveillance – using seals and other instruments to detect non-registered movements or manipulation of nuclear materials, as well as monitoring the sites with camera surveillance.
Safeguards inspectors monitor nuclear power plants, uranium mines, research reactors and uranium enrichment sites to verify peaceful uses
Inspectors not only visit nuclear power plants but also uranium mines, fuel manufacturing plants, uranium enrichment sites, research reactors and nuclear fuel storage sites. Their mission is to verify that the nuclear material is only used for peaceful purposes.
According to the type of site, the work is done by teams of two to ten inspectors. It is an exhausting, highly demanding job with a lot of responsibility, according to the inspectors.
The work can last a day or more and is divided into several stages.
First stage: meeting and review of records
After the team from IAEA arrives at the site and goes through security control, they meet the site's operator and director as well as other members of the team. During the meeting, all teams discuss safety regulations and the day's agenda is established.
After this, the team reviews the site's nuclear material accounting records.
Second stage: checking the site
The IAEA team enters the site with the operator. They must wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and remove all accessories (jewellery, watches, etcetera), which are stored along with their personal belongings to avoid any risk of pollution. They also use a rigid helmet, net or hood for their hair and a dosimeter to monitor the radiation levels and guarantee their personal safety.
During the course of four to six hours, the inspectors work while carrying various tools and instruments that can weigh up to 15 kilos. They must carry them by hand most of the time to avoid any risk of pollution.
In order to verify the nuclear material according to the statement and material records of the country, inspectors carry out several activities:
- They check the IAEA surveillance cameras (remote monitoring systems).
- They examine the IAEA seals to check that there was no manipulation.
- They attach IAEA seals to the most recent nuclear material containers, if necessary.
- They count the elements in the spent fuel pool. Using special cameras, they make sure that what is identified is the same as what is on the registry.
- They take environmental samples by collecting dust particles from the site's surface. These samples are then sent anonymously to the IAEA laboratory in Austria and to other specialized laboratories to detect possible traces of nuclear materials.
The inspectors check the monitoring systems, the official seals and the elements from the spent fuel pool, and collect samples to detect any possible traces of nuclear material
Third stage: review and presentation of documentation
After the day's work, the team meets the site staff to go over the tasks performed and see what are the next steps that need to be taken.
Once all the necessary tasks are finished (this can last a day or more) the team meets with the site staff again to summarize all the inspection work. They also present the documentation and the report they have prepared to send to the IAEA headquarters.
Nuclear safeguards in Spain
Chapter XIII of Law 25/1964 on Nuclear Energy indicates that every person, whether legal or physical, must comply with the obligations derived from nuclear safeguard commitments. Article 8.2 on Nuclear and Radioactive site Law includes the responsibility of site owners regarding these safeguards.
In Spain, Royal Decree 1206/2003 and ITC/2637/2004 Order are in place to adequate national regulations to Spain's commitments in regards to the Additional Protocol for Safeguards Agreement co-signed by countries that do not have nuclear weapons and Euratom with the IAEA. This national regulation is necessary in order to cover all the aspects that exceed the Euratom Treaty's legal framework in the application of the Additional Protocol.
Sources: IAEA, Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Nuclear España Magazine
