Development of training course on non-destructive assay of nuclear material for Asian region, 2; Development of lectures and exercises on gamma-ray measurement

Yamamoto, Masahiko; Kono, Soma; Saegusa, Yu; Kuno, Takehiko; Sekine, Megumi; Inoue, Naoko; Noro, Naoko; Rodriguez, D.; Yamaguchi, Tomoki; Stinett, J.*

Proceedings of INMM & ESARDA Joint Annual Meeting 2023 (Internet), 10 Pages, 2023/05

The gamma-ray measurement part of the Non-Destructive Assay (NDA) course of safeguards and nuclear material accountancy was developed to focus on gamma-ray measurement allotting two days out of five days. The lectures on the basic characteristics and detection methods and mechanism of gamma-ray detectors were provided as e-learnings which were developed. The part for hands-on exercises were implemented in JAEA facility. Participants have set up each gamma-ray detector, and performed measurements of uranium and the other gamma-ray emitting nuclides. Also, uranium-235 enrichment measurements have been performed. In addition, the participants trained with a handheld gamma-ray spectrometer, HM-5, that is popular for IAEA safeguards as the preparation in the measurement exercise of fresh fuel assemblies in JRR-3, a research reactor facility of JAEA. This paper reports on the development, implementation, and feedback from participants on gamma-ray measurement part of the NDA course.

Optimization of training effectiveness of physical protection course for Asian region; Best mix of in-person and virtual methodologies

Noro, Naoko; Sekine, Megumi; Inoue, Naoko; Scharmer, C.*; Orr, A.*

Proceedings of INMM & ESARDA Joint Annual Meeting 2023 (Internet), 9 Pages, 2023/05

During the COVID-19 pandemics, ISCN has developed several online training courses on nuclear security for the regional participants to minimize the impact of global travel restriction. ISCN resumed its regional training as in-person in summer 2022. By combining in-person and virtual methodologies, ISCN and successfully designed the regional training to optimize its curriculum to optimize the effectiveness of the course. This paper reports on the development, implementation of the course to share ISCN's experience, and contribute to further enhancing effectiveness of capacity building in nuclear security.

Case study activities for nuclear security culture development in JAEA

Amano, Tsukasa; Shibata, Ryodai; Sato, Yoshiharu; Yamazaki, Katsuyuki; Shiromo, Hideo; Nakamura, Hironobu

Proceedings of INMM & ESARDA Joint Annual Meeting 2023 (Internet), 6 Pages, 2023/05

In Japan, about 10 years have passed since the law obligated nuclear operators to develop and maintain a nuclear security culture. During this period, the global nuclear situation has changed significantly, and it is becoming important to maintain a stance that emphasizes compliance with regulations and nuclear security culture. In JAEA, the policy of legal compliance and developing nuclear security culture is determined by the president of JAEA. For legal compliance and developing nuclear security culture, many activities are carried out based on that policy. Finally, these activities are evaluated and improved it every year. Case study is the one of activities that can obtain skills for legal compliance and developing nuclear security culture, such as sensitivity of nuclear security risks, correct understanding of the laws. The procedure for the case study was created with reference to a method called KY-Training which is often applied to safety training program in Japan. KY-Training is a training that participants (groups) can reach the conclusion how to respond to cases through four questions. Firstly, participants are given illustrations and descriptions which has potential of nuclear security risks. Then, participants make discussion according to four questions. Consequently, participants can effectively become aware of nuclear security risks. In the 2022 case study, we prepared 23 cases so that they can select choose freely according to role of participants such as in charge of nuclear security, guards, general employees. Finally, participants are asked to fill a questionnaire to evaluate effectiveness of case study. The result of questionnaires indicated that the case study was able to lead to improvement sensitivity of nuclear security risks and correct understanding of the laws. Overall, case study results suggested that JAEA's efforts were implying sufficiently to develop and maintain a nuclear security culture.

JAEA/ISCN delayed gamma-ray spectroscopy inverse Monte Carlo development status

Rodriguez, D.; Rossi, F.

Proceedings of INMM & ESARDA Joint Annual Meeting 2023 (Internet), 9 Pages, 2023/05

The Effort for the nuclear material recovery from the reprocessing process and relevant MC&A in the TRP Decommissioning Project

Kato, Akane; Shimizu, Yasuyuki; Kitao, Takahiko; Nakamura, Hironobu

no journal, , 

Tokai Reprocessing Plant (TRP) had reprocessed 1,140 tons spent fuel (SF) since 1977 to 2007, and the Post-Fukushima safety regulations triggered TRP to decide to shut the plant and shifted to decommissioning phase from 2018. The estimated entire duration of TRP decommissioning is expected to be 70 years. The early stage of the TRP decommissioning includes the recovery of remaining nuclear material in the process and transferring those nuclear material between multiple facilities ("Flush-out"), vitrification activity of remaining high active liquid waste and transferring collected nuclear material to the storage facility, and the management of radioactive waste. The Flush-out is as the first step of TRP decommissioning and it is in progress since July 2022 for two years prior to the start of serious decommissioning activities such as the decontamination, dismantling/removing the process. Since these decommissioning activities are unexperienced challenges and they are not related to "SF reprocessing", therefore ensuring appropriate nuclear material control and accountancy (MC&A) and the transparency in terms of safeguards verification implemented by IAEA are important role as the operator. In this paper, we report about the residual nuclear material recovery process and relevant MC&A and safeguards measures in the Flush-out as the first stage of TRP decommissioning project.