UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND STATE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMITTEE OF UKRAINE SIGN AN IMPLEMENTING ARRANGEMENT

The United States Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the State Nuclear Regulatory Committee of Ukraine (SNRCU) agreed to work together to protect radiological material, which could be used for a “dirty bomb.” The Implementing Arrangement Concerning Cooperation to Enhance the Security of Ukraine's Usable Sources of Ionizing Radiation (SIRs) was signed on June 16, 2006 in Washington, D.C., and on June 23, 2006 in Kyiv, respectively.

Under this Implementing Arrangement, the United States plans to assist SNRCU and other designated beneficiaries to:

• Improve physical protection, control and accounting methods for usable high risk SIRs;
• Enhance physical security of usable SIRs facilities such as oncology clinics, research institutes, Ukrainian State industrial enterprise, and commercial enterprises;
• Provide secure transport for usable SIRs within Ukraine; and
• Assist in training and provision of equipment to conduct searches for and retrieval of orphaned radiological sources.

In May 2005, NNSA also signed an Implementing Arrangement with the Ministry of Ukraine for Emergencies and Affairs of Population Protection from the Consequences of the Chornobyl Catastrophe (MOES) Concerning Cooperation to Enhance the Security of Ukraine’s Disused Sources of Ionizing Radiation. NNSA and MOES are working in close cooperation to implement joint projects for enhancing physical security of radioactive sources storage facilities under this Implementing Arrangement.

NNSA’s Office of Global Threat Reduction works around the world with more than 40 countries to prevent the malicious use of radioactive sources. It is responsible for implementing the assistance with SNRCU and MOES in Ukraine.