Strengthening Long-Term Nuclear Security: Protecting Weapon-Usable Material in Russia

In July 2005, the National Academies released the report Strengthening Long-term Nuclear Security: Protecting Weapon-Usable Material in Russia. The report highlighted several obstacles in the transition from a U.S.-Russian cooperative program to a Russian-directed and Russian-funded fully indigenized program that will ensure the security of 600 tons of weapon-usable nuclear material at a level of international acceptability. Overcoming these obstacles requires an increased political commitment at a number of levels of the Russian Government to modern material protection, control, and accounting systems (MPC&A). Adequate resources must be provided to facilities where weapon-usable material is located for upgrading and maintaining MPC&A systems. Additionally, the technical security systems that are being installed through the cooperative program need to be fully embraced by Russian managers and specialists. The report recommends the establishment of a ten-year indigenization fund of about $500 million provided by Russia and its G-8 partners as a new mechanism for gradually shifting the financial burden of MPC&A to the Russian Government.

• Front Matter
• Summary
• 1 Responding to the Threat of Nuclear Terrorism
• 2 The Need for Russian Champions for MPC&A
• 3 Financial Support for MPC&A Activities
• 4 Improved Approaches to Facilitate Indigenization
• Epilogue
• Appendix A Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Russian Federation Regarding Cooperation in the Area of Nuclear Material Physical Protection, Control, and Accounting
• Appendix B Specific Recommendations from Two Previous National Research Council Reports Concerning Indigenization of MPC&A
• Appendix C Committee Biographies
• Appendix D United States Legislative Basis for DOE MPC&A Activities in Russia and DOE MPC&A Program Description
• Appendix E The U.S. Department of Energy's Approach to Materials Protection, Control, and Accounting Sustainability in Russia
• Appendix F List of Consultations and Site Visits by the Committee
• Appendix G Timeline of the U.S. Department of Energy- Ministry of Atomic Energy Cooperation
• Appendix H U.S. Congressional Appropriations and Funding Projections for MPC&A Cooperative Program with the Russian Federation
• Appendix I Russian Facilities Participating in the Cooperative MPC&A Program as of June 2005
• Appendix J Russian Federal Target Program on Nuclear and Radiation Safety in Russia for 2000-2006