Nuclear Waste: Intelligence Summary 05 February 2007 – 11 February 2007

Taiwan May Vote Next Year On Site For Nuclear Waste
07 February 2007

CHINA POST (TAIPEI) - After failed bids to move the radioactive material to Russia, China and North Korea, Taiwan may ask residents near four sites of a proposed nuclear waste dump to vote on the plan next year. The selected site will get NT$5 billion in compensation. Taipower, the island's biggest power producer (and the state-owned utility) runs nuclear plants that supply more than a fifth of the electricity on an island where the 200 earthquakes that strike in an average year have heightened public opposition toward the use of reactors. Taipower had agreements with North Korea and Russia for nuclear waste disposal. [US interests] have blocked the plan to store waste in North Korea because facilities there are "inadequate," while Russia has since banned imports of nuclear waste. Source: http://www.chinapost.com.tw/news/archives/business/200727/101989.htm (Reliability: 3)

Nuclear Materials Control: Intelligence Summary 05 February-11 February 2007

Russia Pins Energy Hopes On New Nuclear Monopoly
08 February 2007

RIA NOVOSTI (MOSCOW) - President Vladimir Putin recently signed the so-called "tunnel law," which is opening new vistas for Russia's civilian nuclear power industry. The law is designed to rationalize the legal and institutional conditions for the operation of the energy-and-industry sector, and make it more competitive internationally and more attractive for investment. It separates the Russian nuclear power sector into military and civilian parts. The law is designed to rationalize the legal and institutional conditions for the operation of the energy-and-industry sector, and make it more competitive internationally and more attractive for investment. It separates the Russian nuclear power sector into military and civilian parts. Source: http://en.rian.ru/analysis/20070208/60389611.html (Reliability: 7)

Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials: Intelligence Summary 05 February - 11 February 2007

Nuclear Power Plants Are Well Protected
09 February 2007

PANTAGRAPH.COM (WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Nuclear power plants are the nation's best-defended industrial facilities, in no small part because plant owners recognize that these facilities are vital to our nation's domestic energy supply and protect them accordingly. Since 2001, the industry has spent more than $1.5 billion on improving commercial nuclear plant security. We have increased the number of security officers by 60 percent to a total of 8,000 officers; increased the size and numbers of defensive weapons systems; extended plant security perimeters; increased the intensity of training, including ``force-on-force'' mock terrorism drills. Source: http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2007/02/10/opinion/letters/123310.txt (Reliability: 6.5)

International Safeguards: Intelligence Summary 05 February - 11 February 2007

US Takes Step Toward Joining UN Nuclear Fuel Bank Project
07 February 2007

ENERGY DAILY (WASHINGTON, DC) - The US took a step toward joining a proposed UN-supervised international nuclear fuel bank aimed at deterring the spread of nuclear weapons. Tom Lantos, chairman of the House of Representatives committee on Foreign Affairs, introduced a bill on 7 February 2007 that authorizing US participation in a nuclear fuel bank. The bill drew immediate support from the Bush administration. IAEA director Mohamed Elbaradei proposed the idea of a fuel bank in September, 2006 as a way to keep countries like Iran from developing their own uranium enrichment programs. Source: http://www.energy-daily.com/reports/US_takes_step_toward_joining_UN_nuclear_fuel_bank_project_999.html (Reliability: 7)

Analysis: It is likely that the US will join the UN fuel bank to put pressure on Iran to give up its enrichment program. Keeping nuclear weapons out of the hands of countries like Iran and limiting the amount of uranium enrichment programs worldwide are issues that are too important to deal with unilaterally, so joining this bank will help the US in its dealings with Iran. (Analytic Confidence: 8)

Packaging & Transportation: Intelligence Summary 05 February - 11 February 2007

New York To Test Ways To Guard Against Nuclear Terror
08 February 2007

NEW YORK TIMES (WASHINGTON D.C.) - Starting in spring 2007 at a Staten Island port terminal, the federal government will assess new detection machines designed to screen cargo and distinguish between naturally occurring radiation and critical bomb-building ingredients. Later in 2007, the government plans to begin setting up an elaborate network of radiation alarms at some bridges, tunnels, roadways and waterways into New York. The detection equipment, some of which would be mobile, would be electronically connected and monitored. Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/09/nyregion/09nuke.html?em&ex=1171170000&en=6507810ff9f35d06&ei=5087%0A (Reliability: 7)

Analysis: It is unlikely that the government will test a similar network in any other U.S. city in 2007. The system carries a large cost and its effectiveness is unproven. (Analytic Confidence: 8)

Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials: Intelligence Summary 29 January - 4 February 2007

NRC Approves Final Rule Amending Security Requirements
29 January 2007

NRC NEWS (WASHINGTON) - The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved a final rule, protected from public disclosure, that enhances security regulations governing the design basis threat. NRC Chairman, Dale Klein stated, “Overall we are taking a multi-faceted approach to security enhancements in the post 9/11 threat environment, and looking at how best to secure existing nuclear power plants and how to incorporate security enhancements into design features of new reactors.” This rule, which provides modes of attack, weaponry capabilities and intentions of adversary, is the first of several planned security-related rules to enhance protection of nuclear power plants. Other rules being developed include proposals to add security assessment requirements for new power reactor designs; proposals to revise and update requirements for physical protection at existing and new reactors; and proposals to establish how technical requirements, including those related to security, are to be examined in applications for NRC review of new reactor designs and operations. Source: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/news/2007/07-012.html (Reliability: 8.5)