inmm standards committee n15 ‘methods of nuclear material control’

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» Fifth levelINMM Standards Committee N15‘Methods of Nuclear Material Control’

Lynne Preston, N15 Secretary

Lynne PrestonN15 Secretary

NMMSS Users Training MeetingLas Vegas, Nevada

May 20, 2010

INMM Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) N15

Acknowledgements

• Carrie Mathews and Melanie May– Devoted volunteers on N15’s Board of Officers; – Coauthors of a paper on which this presentation is based,

given by Carrie Mathews at the 2009 INMM Annual Meeting

• Brian Horn, Nuclear Regulatory Commission – Suggested this opportunity to speak with NRC licensees

NMMSS UsersTraining Meeting; May 20, 2010

NMMSS Users Training Meeting; May 20, 2010

Outline

• American National Standards • Nuclear Standards Developing Organizations• Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) N15

– Purpose and Scope– Stakeholders (Interest Categories)– Standards Development Process– Standards (Past, Present, and Future)

• Benefits of Participation• Please Volunteer!


Laws, Regulations, Voluntary Standards

• Laws– Established by Congress; published as statues in the U.S. Code– Mandatory; violations punishable by fines or imprisonment

• Regulations– Developed by regulatory agencies to set requirements for how

public law is to be met; published in Code of Federal Regulations– Mandatory; violations punishable by fines

• Voluntary Consensus Standards– Developed by government, private companies, professional,

nonprofit, or consumer organizations to set requirements for products, processes, services or systems (e.g., for DVD format)

– Not mandatory unless specified by contract or regulation


American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

• A private, non-profit organization [501(c)(3)] founded in 1918 by 5 engineering societies and 3 government agencies.

• Ensures that balance is maintained among competing interests and that standards development is an open and transparent process including the attainment of consensus by materially affected parties.

• Enhances the global competitiveness of U.S. business and the U.S. quality of life by promoting and facilitating voluntary consensus standards and conformity assessment programs (e.g., testing by Underwriters Laboratories).


Standards Developing Organizations• N13 (HPS)

– Standards for radiation protection of workers and the public related to the use, testing, and measurement of radiation.

• N14 (INMM)– Standards for packaging and transportation of fissile and

radioactive materials and non-nuclear hazardous materials, not including handling during processing and manufacturing.

• N15 (INMM)– Standards for protection, control, and accounting of special

nuclear material in all phases of the nuclear fuel cycle.• C26 (ASTM)

– Performance standards and test methods for nuclear fuel cycle materials, products, and processes.


More Nuclear SDOs• N16 (ANS)

– Standards for nuclear criticality safety of fissile material outside reactors and for coping with accidents should they occur.

• N17 (ANS)– Standards for the location, design, construction, operation, and

maintenance of nuclear reactors for training and research, critical facilities, and reactor physics calculations.

• N42 (IEEE)– Performance standards, specifications, and test methods related

to instruments used for detection and measurement of radiation.• ISO TC 85

– Standards for peaceful applications of nuclear energy and the protection of individuals against all sources of ionizing radiation.

The Role of INMM• The INMM was formed in 1958 to encourage:

– The advancement of nuclear materials management in all its aspects.– The promotion of research in the field of nuclear materials management.– The establishment of standards, consistent with existing professional

norms.– The improvement of the qualifications of those engaged in nuclear

materials management and safeguards through high standards of professional ethics, education, and attainment, and the recognition of those who meet such standards.

– The increase and dissemination of information through meetings, professional contacts, reports, papers, discussions, and publications.



Significance to U.S. Regulatory PoliciesH.R. 2196, the National Technology Transfer and

Advancement Act of 1995, Section 12, paragraph (d).(1):

“Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, all Federal agencies and departments shall use technical standards that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies, using such technical standards as a means to carry out policy objectives or activities determined by the agencies and departments.”


ASC N15 Organization• INMM serves as the Standards Developing Organization (SDO)

accredited by ANSI to manage Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) N15, “Methods of Nuclear Material Control.”

• The SDO pays annual membership fees to ANSI.• The SDO must demonstrate compliance with ANSI’s

essential requirements. Operating Procedures are updated annually and approved by ANSI.

• ANSI periodically audits its SDOs and reaccredits them (or withholds accreditation.) INMM was reaccredited to manage N15 after passing a comprehensive audit in 2009.


ASC N15 Purpose and Scope• Purpose: ASC N15 develops and sustains American

National Standards for the nuclear industries (may be used by both NRC licensees and DOE contractors).

• Scope: Standards for the protection, control and accounting of special nuclear material in all phases of the nuclear fuel cycle, including analytical procedures where necessary and special to this purpose [except that protection of special nuclear material within a nuclear power plant is not included].


ASC N15 Standards• N15 Standards provide high-level information needed to

implement programs, processes, and practices within the U.S. nuclear industries, promoting consistency and reducing duplication. Examples include:– Quality control programs for measurement of nuclear material, and– Employee qualification and certification.

• Where applicable, detailed test methods or procedures are typically described in ASTM standards.

• International (ISO) standards can be adopted as American National Standards, subject to regular procedures for review and vote.


Evolution of N15• Through the 1970’s and 80’s, N15 worked closely with the

AEC (then ERDA, then NRC & DOE) preparing standards to flesh out U.S. regulations.

• By 1994, DOE and NRC had issued agency-specific guides for many of the topics covered by N15 standards.– Participation in standards development has fallen.

• In 2009, N15 has– 1 active Subcommittee and 4 writing groups; – 2 active standards and 1 in ballot;– 2 standards under revision and 1 in development.


ASC N15 Status Over the Years• INMM ASC N15 priorities have adjusted and changed as

the needs of its stakeholders have changed. • New standards are proposed and developed, active

standards are updated, international standards may be adopted, and standards no longer needed are withdrawn.

• Careful attention to balance among the stakeholder communities has persisted over the decades, avoiding dominance by any single interest category.


ASC N15 Ballot Roster (2009) by Interest Category

• Standards Developing Organization (SDO)– Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM)– American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)– American Society for Quality (ASQ)– American Nuclear Society (ANS)– American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS)

• Standards and Testing Laboratory– National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)– New Brunswick Laboratory (NBL)


ASC N15 Ballot Roster (2009) by Interest Category (cont.)

• NRC/State-Regulated Facility– AREVA-NP– Global Nuclear Fuels– BWXT Lynchburg– Westinghouse Nuclear

• DOE-Regulated Facility– Sandia National Laboratory– Los Alamos National Laboratory– Y-12 National Security Complex– Savannah River National Laboratory


ASC N15 Ballot Roster (2009)by Interest Category (cont.)

• Federal Regulatory Agency– U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)– U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

• Member-at-Large– Joseph D. Rivers– Yvonne Ferris– Reuben C. McGilvary III– Obie Amacker, Jr.– Martha Williams (nominated, not yet approved by ballot vote)

Standards Development Process• Determine Need and Scope; N15 Project Approved• Form Writing Team (consider balance/conflict of interests)• Project Initiation (PINS) Form to ANSI• Writing Team Drafts, Reviews, Revises, and Approves• N15 Editorial Review• N15 Ballot; BSR-8 to ANSI - Public Review and Comment

– Writing team resolves comments– Appeals process for comments which cannot be resolved

• BSR-9 to ANSI - Approval as an American National Standard• Publication


Example - N15.8 Revision• ANSI N15.8-1974 was written when the fuel assembly

was the primary unit of interest for control and accounting of special nuclear material. Events at Millstone Unit 1 Vermont Yankee, and Humboldt Bay (2000-2004) indicated a need for establishing acceptable practices for rods and pieces that meet NRC regulations.

• Scope Determined – NMMSS User’s Meeting, May 2005• Writing Team Formed, PINS Submitted – Spring 2006

– Writing team included representatives of the NRC, NRC licensees, and the Idaho National Laboratory


Example - N15.8 Revision (cont.)• Drafts Reviewed and Revised – 2006 through 2007• Comments Invited

– Discussed at INMM N15 Annual Meetings, 2006 through 2008– Presentation by Williams and Morello, ANS/INMM 8th International

Conference on Facility Operations – Safeguards Interface– Morello/Williams at NMMSS Users Training Meeting – May 2008

• Approved by Ballot Roster – April-May/(November) 2008• Public Review and Comment – July-September 2008• BSR-9 Submitted to ANSI – December 2008

– ANSI inquiries regarding balance resolved February 2009• ANSI Publication, April 2009



Examples of Past Standards• N15.1-1970, Classification of Irradiated Pu Scrap• N15.2-1971, Record and Reporting Units for Nuclear Materials

Control• N15.3-1972, Physical Inventories of Nuclear Materials• N15.4-1971, Guide to Practices, Nuclear Material Control

Systems for Conversion Facilities• N15.9-1975, Nuclear Material Control Systems for Fuel

Fabrication Facilities• N15.11-1983, Nuclear Material Balance Reports - Audit Opinions• N15.26-1976, Physical Protection of Special Nuclear Materials

within a Facility


ASC N15 Active Standards (2009)

• N15.51-2007, Measurement Control Program – Nuclear Materials Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (published)

• N15.8-2009, Special Nuclear Material Control and Accounting Systems for Nuclear Power Plants (published)

• N15.36-1994, Nondestructive Assay Measurement Control and Assurance (final ballot)

• N15 standards are published and distributed through the ANSI eStandards Store; webstore.ansi.org


ASC N15 Current Projects (2010)

• N15.19-1989, Tank Volume Calibration Standard (Adopt ISO 18213 series, “Nuclear Fuel Technology –

Tank Calibration and Volume Measurement”?)• N15.28-1991, Guide for Qualification and Certification

of Safeguards and Security Personnel• N15.41-1984 (R1994), Derivation of Measurement

Control Programs, General Principles• N15.51-2007, Measurement Control Principles for

Destructive Assay Laboratories


ASC N15 - New Actions (2010)

• Measurement Programs for In-Situ Nuclear Materials (Nuclear Material Holdup) – Project Initiation (PINS) form filed with ANSI – Strawman complete

• Unique Identification of Items (e.g. UF6 cylinders) – Need, scope and jurisdiction under review

• N15.1, Classification of Unirradiated U Scrap and N15.10, Classification of Unirradiated Pu Scrap – Need and scope under review


ASC N15 - Future Directions

• New Nuclear Facilities Under Construction– New enrichment technology – GCEP, SILEX– New fuel fabrication plants – MOX – Radiological Source Security

• Material control for nuclear and radiological materials of potential use in a malevolent act, e.g. RDD, IED.

• Decommissioning– Facility and plant closure, materials disposition

• International Target Values, revise and update


Benefits of Participation• Establish Consistency on a Voluntary Basis

– Enjoy economies of scale (solve a problem once only)– Simplify data integration and support business transactions

• Clarify Expectations– Document acceptable practices that meet regulatory requirements– Convey industry requirements to non-nuclear vendors

• Reduce Risks of Developing New Technologies• Prepare for the Future; Pay It Forward


Please Volunteer!

• Carrie Mathews, N15 ChairPacific Northwest National Laboratory509-375-6783; ([email protected])

• Melanie May, N15 Vice-ChairU.S. Department of Energy301-903-1566; ([email protected])

• Lynne Preston, N15 SecretaryU.S. Department of Energy301-903-2627; ([email protected])

inmm standards committee n15 ‘methods of nuclear material control’

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