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Nuclear Security Matters
Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons
February 2016 | Report
Congressional Research Service
By Paul K. Kerr and Mary Beth Nikitin
This CRS report praises recent improvements in Pakistan’s export control laws, personnel security, and international nuclear security cooperation, but warns political instability continuing plaguing the country continues to pose a threat to the safety of its nuclear weapons and material.
Nuclear Power Plant Security and Vulnerabilities
January 2014 | Report
Congressional Research Service
By Anthony Andrews and Mark Holt
This CRS report outlines the vulnerabilities of domestic nuclear power plants to attack from outside forces. It notes that in 2007 the NRC updated the Design Basis Threat to mandate protection from more than one team of adversaries attacking from multiple entry points. The report also describes the threat posed by civilian aircraft, noting that NRC regulations require all new power plants to ensure that in the event of a crash the reactor core would stay cooled, but this requirement does not extend to existing reactors. (click here to view)
U.S. Nuclear Power After Fukushima
July 2011 | Report
Union of Concerned Scientists
"The recent events in Japan remind us that while the likelihood of a nuclear power plant accident is low, its potential consequences are grave....Given this reality, the United States must take concrete steps now to address serious shortcomings in nuclear plant safety and security that have been evident for years." (click here to view)
The Security Implications of China's Nuclear Energy Expansion
June 2010 | Journal Article
The Nonproliferation Review
By Yun Zhou
This article examines and evaluates security measures at Chinese civilian nuclear power plants and suggests ways to improve them. It also reviews current export control policies and systems, identifies likely challenges to the expanding nuclear sector, and proposes possible solutions. (click here to view)
Nuclear Power Plant Security
September 2013 | Fact Sheet
Nuclear Energy Institute
"This fact sheet details the defense-in-depth philosophy used in the construction and operation of nuclear power plants, which provides high levels of protection for public health and safety." (click here to view)
Best Practice Guides on Security of Radioactive Sources
December 2012 | Best Practice Guide Series
World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS)
"The use of radioactive sources to inspect materials for hidden flaws is a valuable commercial assessment tool. Thousands of these sources are in use at any time all over the world. We know that the loss and theft of these high activity sources are a fairly common occurrence. If they are used maliciously, they have the potential to significantly harm individuals and the environment….WINS International Best Practice Guide explains how your organisation can help to reduce the risk of theft of your industrial radiography sources and enhance their security worldwide.”
WINS Best Practice Guides are available to WINS members only (registration is free). The Best Practice Guides on Security of Radioactive Sources includes publications on:
- Security of Industrial Radiography Sources
- Security of High Activity Radioactive Sources
- Security of Well Logging Radioactive Sources
Nuclear Cyber Security
Blog
By Manolya Rowe
"This blog explores implementing the right security program for individual systems, system architectures and entire Nuclear Power Plants (NPP)." (click here to view)
Building a Better International Nuclear Security Standard
March 2012 | Working Paper
U.S.-Korea Institute at SAIS
By William H. Tobey
"This paper illustrates the threat of nuclear terrorism and argues that, with their years of experience, the United States and Russia should articulate a nuclear security “gold standard” to other states." (click here to view)
Nuclear Energy and Global Governance: Ensuring Safety, Security and Non-proliferation
March 2012 | Book
Routledge
By Trevor Findlay
"This book examines comprehensively the drivers of and constraints on a prospective nuclear revival and its likely nature and scope." (click here to view)
Nuclear Safety and Security at the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit
March 2012 | Working Paper
U.S.-Korea Institute at SAIS
By Sharon Squassoni
"In this paper, Sharon Squassoni explores the intersections of nuclear safety and nuclear security and how this discussion will likely be addressed at the upcoming 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit." (click here to view)
An Integrated Approach to Nuclear Safety and Nuclear Security
January 2011 | Best Practice Guide
World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS)
"This WINS International Best Practice Guide explains the factors that will help you provide an integrated approach to nuclear safety and nuclear security in your organisation….Today we understand that an integrated approach to nuclear safety and nuclear security is the best way to protect society and the environment. Without a strong approach to both, all stakeholders (including your organisation’s assets and staff, and those outside your organisation) are likely to be at greater risk from malicious acts."
- WINS Best Practice Guides are available to WINS members only (registration is free)
Integrating Nuclear Safety and Security: Policy Recommendations
December 2011 | Memo
Center for Strategic and International Studies
By Kenneth Luongo, Sharon Squassoni, and Joel Wit
"As part of the international effort to further understand the intersection of nuclear safety and security in the post-Fukushima environment, the Center for Strategic and Intentional Studies (CSIS), US-Korea Institute at the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and Partnership for Global Security (PGS) convened a workshop experts in late 2011 to discuss how crises have shaped nuclear safety policies, how operators balance and integrate safety and security practices at operating reactors, how the safety and security regimes can and should complement each other, and how the Seoul NSS may want to address the two issues at the next summit….The following captures key elements of the discussion at the workshop and may be of interest to policymakers ahead of the 2012 NSS." (click here to view)
The Uncertain Future of Nuclear Energy
September 2010 | Report
International Panel on Fissile Materials
Edited by Frank von Hippel
"This report argues nuclear power could make a significant contribution to the global electricity supply. Or it could be phased out — especially if there is another accidental or a terrorist-caused Chernobyl-scale release of radioactivity. If the spread of nuclear energy cannot be decoupled from the spread of nuclear weapons, it should be phased out." (click here to view)
Potential Strategic Consequences of the Nuclear Energy Revival
Summer 2010 | Paper
French Institute of International Relations | Security Studies Center
By Charles D. Ferguson
This paper assesses the potential consequences of increased nuclear power in the existing nuclear power states and most importantly in the many more states that have in recent years expressed interest in this power source. (click here to view)
The Interface Between Safety and Security at Nuclear Power Plants
January 2010 | Report
International Atomic Energy Agency | International Nuclear Safety Group
"This publication seeks to provide a better understanding of the interface between safety and security at nuclear power plants and to discuss the means to achieve both objectives in an optimal fashion. It provides information in a background chapter on the existing relevant documentation, discusses the expectations for administrative arrangements at different levels, surveys certain common principles, and suggests general solutions that can help ensure an integrated approach. Conclusions are drawn and high level recommendations are proposed with the goal of maximizing the protection of the public, property, society and the environment through an improved and strengthened interface between safety and security." (click here to view)
Engineering Safety Aspects of the Protection of Nuclear Power Plants Against Sabotage
January 2007 | Technical Guidance
International Atomic Energy Agency
"This report provides guidelines for evaluating the engineering safety aspects of the protection of nuclear power plants against sabotage. The guidance, which is the result of extensive dialogue among safety and security specialists, takes into account the existing robustness of structures, systems and components and emphasizes those aspects of sabotage protection that work synergistically with the protection against extreme external occurrences of accidental origin, such as earthquakes, tornadoes and human induced events." (click here to view)
Science and Technology to Counter Terrorism: Threats to Civilian Nuclear-Energy Facilities
January 2007 | Book Chapter
The National Academies Press
By John Holdren
"This presentation begins by locating the threat of attack on civil nuclear-energy facilities in the larger terrain of nuclear-terrorism dangers. It goes on to describe the potentially dire consequences of a successful attack, to discuss the range of scenarios through which such attacks could unfold, and to characterize in some detail the opportunities, barriers, and determinants of consequences that shape the risk associated with this set of possibilities." (click here to view)
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