Protecting Nuclear Weapons Material in Russia (1999) / Chapter Skim
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2 Findings and Recommendations
2 Findings and Recommendations
Pages 17-36
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From page 17... ...
The First Deputy Minister for Atomic Energy stated in January 1999 that U.S.-Russian cooperation has been an important factor in strengthening Russian security efforts at many facilities.20 U.S. involvement has been pivotal in stimulating Russian efforts, though limited, to develop a stronger indigenous capability for installing and maintaining MPC&A systems and in raising awareness of the importance of MPC&A throughout the Russian nuclear complex.
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From page 18... ...
Meanwhile, the U.S. government must continue to emphasize the importance of MPC&A as a nonproliferation imperative at the highest political levels in Russia in order to achieve the final goal of ensuring that MPC&A systems are in place and operating effectively at all locations and are supported financially by the Russian government.
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From page 19... ...
Of special relevance, DOE has successfully relied on well-qualified colleagues from Kurchatov Institute in order to initiate the naval fuel program, which involves access to sensitive facilities. Reliance on qualified intermediaries may succeed at other sensitive facilities as well, such as the serial production facilities (facilities where warheads are assembled and disassembled)
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From page 20... ...
investment is high. At the level of the Russian government, there are obvious foreign policy benefits from participation in the program at a time when the porosity of the Russian nuclear complex is a continuing concern.
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From page 21... ...
However, in the process of gaining better control over a rapidly expanding program, DOE has established additional levels of line management within DOE headquarters. There are also examples of micromanagement of technical activities by 21 See, for example, Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson, "Remarks at the 7th Carnegie International Non-Proliferation Conference," Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Washington, D.C., January 12, 1999.
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From page 22... ...
The annual meeting of the Institute for Nuclear Materials Management provides a useful forum to consider broad issues, but it does not provide opportunities for the more detailed discussions that are needed. The absence of lateral communication among MPC&A directors as well as among senior personnel from Russian institutions is especially acute.
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From page 23... ...
B Provide support for operational costs of selected aspects of the personnel and technical infrastructure at Russian institutes to help ensure that MPC&A systems that have been installed are operated and maintained as intended.
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The temporary nature of the associated financial benefits should be very clear from the outset because Russian security forces probably will be among the early beneficiaries of an economic recovery. Nevertheless, to ensure the long-term professionalism of the guards, carefully designed training programs for guards will need to be continued.
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From page 25... ...
B Give greater priority to developing an appropriate national material accountancy system, ensuring that different types of accountancy systems being installed at individual facilities have the capability to provide data in a form that can be incorporated easily into the national system.
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From page 26... ...
Given the sensitivity of this topic, these site plans should be developed with intensive involvement of Russian counterparts. Indeed, it often may be appropriate and necessary to ask Russian counterparts to take the lead in this activity in light of Russian national security sensitivities.
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From page 27... ...
G Develop programs to address spent fuel from reactors other than naval reactors.
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From page 28... ...
B Expand efforts to utilize Russian equipment and services whenever possible and to encourage Russian enterprises and institutes to increase capabilities to provide high-quality equipment and associated warranties and services.
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From page 29... ...
The MPC&A course has attracted considerable attention from the industrial security community in Russia and could become a cornerstone of a broader security curriculum that would provide a high likelihood of employment opportunities for graduates. MPC&A studies could continue as one specialization within a broader set of course offerings that also would attract security specialists in demand by Russian banks and industrial enterprises.
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From page 30... ...
4. Reduce Impediments to Effective Cooperation Finding: Progress in upgrading MPC&A systems has been delayed by administrative problems encountered at the national and facility levels, such as uncertainties as to participation by Russian institutions, access to sensitive facilities, lack of understanding as to tax and customs issues, confusion as to certification requirements for equipment that is to be used, and Russian indecision concerning the national materials accountancy system.
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From page 31... ...
There are a number of key issues that can be resolved only at the intergovernmental level, which usually means that they must be considered at the DOE-MINATOM level. Examples include procedures in Russia for the certification of equipment to be used in MPC&A systems, exemptions of funds and equipment transferred to Russia from taxes and from customs duties, procedures for access to sensitive facilities, responsibilities in Russia for developing a national system for material accountancy, and the lack of willingness of the managers of sensitive facilities (e.g., Electrostal and the serial production facilities)
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From page 32... ...
Civilian Research and Development Foundation, are provided exemptions by Russian authorities from payments of taxes, customs duties, and contributions to pension and social funds when transferring funds to Russian institutions and individuals. Use of these well established mechanisms seems to be a feasible approach for at least some aspects of the MPC&A program.
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From page 33... ...
C Develop a clearer division of responsibility between DOE headquarters staff and specialists of the DOE laboratories.
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From page 34... ...
F Ensure that there is a cadre of specialists available for consultations with DOE headquarters, DOE laboratories, and participating contractor organizations who have strong backgrounds in Russian language, history, culture, economics, and accounting and financial systems, as well as in familiarity with day-to-day problems encountered in working in the Russian environment.
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From page 35... ...
As MPC&A capabilities of Russian institutes improve, they should be considered as locations for over DOE activities, and as Russian specialists scramble for new income streams, Be programs should target the most vulnerable groups.
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From page 36... ...
36 FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDA TIONS These studies should be joint U.S.-Russian efforts. Also, in view of the centrality of MPC&A concerns to the overall U.S.
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