NCJ Number
13317
Date Published
1974
Length
268 pages
Annotation
ANALYSIS OF THE POSSIBILITY THAT NUCLEAR MATERIALS MAY BE STOLEN FROM THE FAST-GROWING UNITED STATES NUCLEAR POWER INDUSTRY AND USED TO MAKE WEAPONS.
Abstract
THE REPORT FINDS THE RISK WILL BE SUBSTANTIAL UNLESS EFFECTIVE STEPS ARE TAKEN TO ASSURE THAT MATERIALS INTENDED FOR USE AS NUCLEAR FUELS ARE NOT STOLEN AND MISUSED BY CRIMINALS OR TERRORISTS. THIS STUDY IS INTENDED TO CONTRIBUTE TO PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE TECHNICAL FACTS AND POLICY ISSUES INVOLVED IN NUCLEAR SECURITY. IT CONTAINS NO CLASSIFIED INFORMATION. DRAWING FROM EXTENSIVE DATA, IT DESCRIBES IN GENERAL TERMS WHAT MATERIALS AND SKILLS ARE REQUIRED TO MAKE CRUDE ATOMIC WEAPONS, HOW MUCH DESTRUCTION THEY COULD CAUSE, WHERE IN THE NUCLEAR POWER INDUSTRY THE KEY MATERIALS FOR SUCH WEAPONS ARE PRESENT, AND WHY AND HOW CRIMINALS OR TERRORISTS MIGHT TRY TO STEAL THEM. BASED ON THEIR STUDY, WILLRICH AND TAYLOR FIND THAT THE U.S. PROGRAM TO GUARD AGAINST THE RISK OF NUCLEAR THEFT IS IMPROVING BUT INCOMPLETE, COMPARABLE MEASURES IN OTHER NATIONS WITH NUCLEAR POWER PROGRAMS ALSO NEED IMPROVEMENT. BUT THERE ARE SAFEGUARDS WHICH, IF IMPLEMENTED, WILL REDUCE THE RISK OF NUCLEAR THEFT TO A VERY LOW LEVEL - AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL, IN THE AUTHORS' JUDGMENT. AN EFFECTIVE SECURITY SYSTEM SHOULD EMPHASIZE THE PREVENTION OF THEFT AND THE DETECTION OF ANY THEFT IN TIME TO PREVENT ITS COMPLETION. THEY ARE CONVINCED THAT THE COSTS OF THESE SAFEGUARDS WILL BE SMALL COMPARED TO THE OVERALL COSTS OF NUCLEAR POWER. THE MOST DIFFICULT PROBLEMS IN DEVELOPING AN EFFECTIVE SAFEGUARDS SYSTEM ARE INSTITUTIONAL AND POLITICAL, NOT TECHNICAL, IN CHARACTER. SEVERAL SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS ADDRESSED TO THE ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION ARE PRESENTED. (SNI ABSTRACT)