In 2001, Canberra Albuquerque, Inc. (CANBERRA) was contracted by the Department of Energy (DOE) to provide products and services to Russian nuclear facilities participating in the DOE Materials Protection, Control and Accounting (MPC&A) Program. Under the MPC&A Operations Monitoring (MOM) Project, the security systems of Russian nuclear facilities are enhanced before the facilities are turned over for independent operation. Besides providing necessary security upgrades to sites with currently unsatisfactory monitoring systems, the camera systems, electronic seals, radiation detectors, and review software provided by CANBERRA grant Russian and US government officials the tools to ensure that sites continue to operate already installed MPC&A systems on an ongoing basis.

PRODUCTS INSTALLED

The MOM system primarily consists of CANBERRA's motion-sensitive Gemini-N cameras monitoring key locations. In select locations, VACOSS electronic seals are installed to monitor spent fuel hatches and nuclear material storage containers. The cameras are networked to the Gemini-N base stations on-site and the data is reviewed by facility management using on-site review stations equipped with CANBERRA's General Advanced Review Software (GARS). Discussions are on-going in determining how data will be transmitted to government offices in Russia and the US.

MEPHI PILOT SYSTEM

CANBERRA installed a pilot monitoring system at the Moscow State Engineering and Physics Institute (MEPhI), the site of a research reactor in downtown Moscow, in October 2001. Equipment installation and personnel training was completed in only four months. The pilot system has received considerable interest from Russian authorities. The personnel and materials monitoring capabilities of the CANBERRA MOM system appeal strongly to Russian site, regional, and national officials.

INTEGRATED SECURITY, MANAGEMENT AND DATA TRANSPARENCY

By offering additive physical security, enhanced administrative tools, and datasharing capabilities, the installed CANBERRA systems offer an integrated solution to site security and management. CANBERRA camera systems and seals provide both reliable documentation of authorized and unauthorized access and the means to ensure site personnel are adhering to key security procedures. The implementation of CANBERRA networking software allows datasharing between authorities, establishing a means of sharing monitoring responsibilities at a national level and providing data transparency and easy cooperation between diverse regulatory organizations.

FUTURE INSTALLATIONS

Following the successful installation of the pilot system at MEPhI, CANBERRA has installed numerous MOM systems at other Russian facilities. Similar systems are being continually installed throughout Russia, with rapid deployment of MOM systems to sites willing to accept monitoring regimes and access requirements, and data links established at regional and national offices. Current installations include MEPhI, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Karpov, Kurchatov Institute, and Tomsk Polytechnic University. Negotiations are on-going with Sevmash, Federal Service for Environmental, Technical, and Nuclear Oversight (formerly GAN) and Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency (formerly MinAtom) for installations at their respective facilities.