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The Joint Convention, Its Global Impact and U.S Continuing Involvement - 16645

Conference ·
OSTI ID:22838374
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. U.S. State Department, Washington, DC, 20037 (United States)
  2. U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC, 20585 (United States)
  3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, 20460 (United States)
  4. U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington DC, 20555 (United States)

The Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management (hereafter called the Joint Convention) is an international convention, conducted under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It is one of a suite of international instruments dealing with nuclear safety and physical security, which serve to promote a global culture for the safe use of radioactive materials. Unlike other safety or security conventions, however, the Joint Convention deals exclusively with the end of the nuclear fuel cycle. The Joint Convention focuses on the lessons to be learned from past experience and existing facility operations, which can be implemented in the policies and designs for future operating facilities in the nuclear fuel cycle. The U.S. has participated fully in the review process, as well as setting forth initiatives to sponsor increased ratification. The U.S. holds the current Joint Convention presidency for the Fifth Review Cycle. Because of the important benefits associated with active participation, the U.S. has strongly supported a Regional Conference Initiative outreach program to increase membership. We also provided an expert for each of the conferences to assist in advancing the message to non-Member States, in particular developing nations considering ratification. The Joint Convention process also provides opportunities to identify future areas of bilateral and multilateral technical and regulatory cooperation with other Parties. Furthermore, the Joint Convention is consistent with U.S. foreign policy considerations to support, as a priority, the strengthening of the worldwide safety culture in the use of nuclear energy. (authors)

Research Organization:
WM Symposia, Inc., PO Box 27646, 85285-7646 Tempe, AZ (United States)
OSTI ID:
22838374
Report Number(s):
INIS-US--19-WM-16645
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English