International Guidance on Security Requirements for Radioactive Sources

Author

B. Dodd

Abstract

Initial radioactive source security requirements were mostly aimed at preventing sources being lost or accidentally getting out of the licensee's control. The first guidance on graded security measures to more completely address all security issues, including intentional theft, were published by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in TECDOC-1355, "Security of Radioactive Sources." This document was issued for comment in June 2003 and has been well received, but often misunderstood. The document provides for three approaches to source security, ranging from a more complex one using national or regional threats assessment and vulnerability analysis, through performance objectives, to one that is very prescriptive and simple to apply. The latter is solely based on the category of source as given in IAEA-TECDOC-1344. The approaches are reviewed and examples given of the application of each approach for common, practical applications. The situation with regard to international guidance on the security of radioactive materials is dynamic. Not only is the IAEA in the process of reviewing and revising TECDOC 1355 based on the feedback and experience gained to date, it is also publishing similar interim guidance for comment on "Security in the Transport of Radioactive Material."

Meeting

This abstract was presented at the 38th Annual Midyear Meeting, "Materials Control and Security: Risk Assessment, Handling, and Detection", Source Security and Monitoring Programs Session, 2/13/2005 - 2/16/2005, held in New Orleans, LA.

 
Index of Midyear Meeting Abstracts