NCJ Number
58187
Journal
BULLETIN OF THE ATOMIC SCIENTISTS Volume: 31 Issue: 5 Dated: (MAY 1975) Pages: 12-16
Date Published
1975
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES THE PROBLEM OF SAFEGUARDING NUCLEAR MATERIALS IN THE LIGHT OF GROWING INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM AND ITS INCREASING USE OF SOPHISTICATED WEAPONRY.
Abstract
THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE INDICATING THAT THE RELATIVELY FEW GOVERNMENTS WHICH PRESENTLY POSSESS NUCLEAR WEAPONS GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO AVOID USE OF THESE WEAPONS IN ACTS OF VIOLENCE. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE, HOWEVER, TO SUPPORT A CONCLUSION THAT EITHER GOVERNMENTS OF NATIONS, OF HUMAN BEINGS GENERALLY, ARE LESS PRONE TO VIOLENT BEHAVIOR THAN THEY WERE BEFORE THE DISCOVERY OF NUCLEAR FISSION. IN THIS RESPECT, INCREASING VIOLENCE USED BY TERRORIST GROUPS AS WELL AS THEIR USE OF TECHNICALLY SOPHISTICATED ARMAMENTS AND TACTICS APPEAR ESPECIALLY OMINOUS. THE ARTICLE POSES QUESTIONS CONCERNING ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS AND ACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF RISK OF NUCLEAR THEFT. A SYSTEM OF SAFEGUARDS CAN BE DEVELOPED TO KEEP AT VERY LOW LEVELS THE RISKS OF THEFT OF NUCLEAR WEAPON MATERIALS FROM THE NUCLEAR POWER INDUSTRY. SUCH A SYSTEM REQUIRES USE OF THE BEST AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY AND INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISMS. HOWEVER, THE ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION'S CURRENT SYSTEM OF SAFEGUARDS IS FAR FROM ADEQUATE AND THE AGGREGATE OF EXISTING SAFEGUARD REQUIREMENTS DO NOT CONSTITUTE A SYSTEM, OR A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH, TO THE PROBLEM OF PREVENTING NUCLEAR THEFT. FUNDING FOR A SAFEGUARDS PROGRAM HAS ALSO BEEN INADEQUATE. ACTIVE LEADERSHIP SHOULD COME FROM WITHIN THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY ITSELF, SAFEGUARDS SHOULD EMPHASIZE THE PREVENTION OF NUCLEAR THEFT AND THE DETECTION OF ANY THEFT ATTEMPT IN TIME TO PREVENT ITS COMPLETION. DETECTION OF A COMPLETED THEFT, RECOVERY OF STOLEN MATERIAL, AND RESPONSE TO ANY NUCLEAR THREAT INVOLVING STOLEN MATERIAL ARE ALSO NECESSARY SAFEGUARDS. INSTRUMENTS AND TECHNIQUES SHOULD BE DEVELOPED AND USED TO PROVIDE A TIMELY AND ACCURATE PICTURE OF THE MATERIAL FLOWS IN THE VARIOUS NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLES TO DETECT IMMEDIATELY THE FLOW OF ANY NUCLEAR EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS OUT OF A MATERIAL ACCESS AREA THROUGH AN UNAUTHORIZED CHANNEL. COLOCATION OF NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE SUPPORT FACILITIES COULD VIRTUALLY ELIIMINATE THE TRANSPORTATION LINKS THAT ARE THE MOST VULNERABLE TO NUCLEAR THEFT. IN ADDITION, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NUCLEAR MATERIALS SECURITY SERVICE SHOULD BE A DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. FINALLY, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SHOULD PURSUE DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTS HAVING SUBSTANTIAL NUCLEAR POWER PROGRAMS IN ORDER TO DEVELOP A COMMON POLICY CONCERNING SAFEGUARDS AGAINST THEFT. NOTES ARE APPENDED. (MJW)