Nuclear nonproliferation and safety: Challenges facing the International Atomic Energy Agency

Technical Report · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/10117115· OSTI ID:10117115

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Govermental Affairs asked the United States General Accounting Office (GAO) to review the safeguards and nuclear power plant safety programs of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This report examines (1) the effectiveness of IAEA`s safeguards program and the adequacy of program funding, (2) the management of U.S. technical assistance to the IAEA`s safeguards program, and (3) the effectiveness of IAEA`s program for advising United Nations (UN) member states about nuclear power plant safety and the adequacy of program funding. Under its statute and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, IAEA is mandated to administer safeguards to detect diversions of significant quantities of nuclear material from peaceful uses. Because of limits on budget growth and unpaid contributions, IAEA has had difficulty funding the safeguards program. IAEA also conducts inspections of facilities or locations containing declared nuclear material, and manages a program for reviewing the operational safety of designated nuclear power plants. The U.S. technical assistance program for IAEA safeguards, overseen by an interagency coordinating committee, has enhanced the agency`s inspection capabilities, however, some weaknesses still exist. Despite financial limitations, IAEA is meeting its basic safety advisory responsibilities for advising UN member states on nuclear safety and providing requested safety services. However, IAEA`s program for reviewing the operational safety of nuclear power plants has not been fully effective because the program is voluntary and UN member states have not requested IAEA`s review of all nuclear reactors with serious problems. GAO believes that IAEA should have more discretion in selecting reactors for review.

• Research Organization: General Accounting Office, Washington, DC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: General Accounting Office, Washington, DC (United States)
• OSTI ID: 10117115
• Report Number(s): GAO/NSIAD/RCED--93-284; ON: TI95005542
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

055001
350200
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ALLOCATIONS
IAEA
IAEA AGREEMENTS
IAEA SAFEGUARDS
INSPECTION
MANAGEMENT
NON-PROLIFERATION POLICY
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
PERFORMANCE
PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
PROLIFERATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
SAFETY ANALYSIS
TECHNICAL ASPECTS
US GAO