NCJ Number
59828
Journal
NUCLEAR MATERIAL MANAGEMENT Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (FALL 1977) Pages: 625-631
Date Published
1977
Length
7 pages
Annotation
TO DEMONSTRATE NEW CONCEPTS FOR ENHANCING SPECIAL NUCLEAR MATERIALS (SNM) SAFEGUARDS, SANDIA LABORATORIES IN ALBUQUERQUE, N.MEX., IS DEVELOPING AN IMPROVED PLUTONIUM PROTECTION SYSTEM (PPS).
Abstract
THESE NEW CONCEPTS ARE BASED ON AN INDEPTH PROTECTION PHILOSOPHY WHICH PROVIDES FOR A SEQUENCE OF SAFEGUARDS MEASURES THAT MUST BE DEFEATED IN ORDER TO STEAL, DIVERT, OR SABOTAGE SNM PACKAGES. THE PPS SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE DETECTION AND CONTROL CAPABILITIES BY AIDING AND SUPPLEMENTING SECURITY FORCES RATHER THAN REPLACING THEM. THE PPS CONSISTS OF A THREE-COMPUTER CONTROL CENTER COMPLEX--THE MATERIAL ACCOUNTABILITY CENTER (MAC), THE MATERIAL OPERATIONS CENTER (MOC), AND THE SECURITY OPERATIONS CENTER (SOC). THE COMPLEX IS DESIGNED TO SEPARATE THE ACCOUNTABILITY, OPERATIONS, AND SECURITY FUNCTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH A SAFEGUARDS SYSTEM. TO THIS COMPLEX, A COMPUTER CONTROL CENTER AND APPROPRIATE HARDWARE ARE ADDED FOR EACH ITEM CONTROL AREA (ICA)--STORAGE OR PROCESSING AREA--WITHIN THE SYSTEM. A STORAGE AREA AND CONTAINER MODULE PACKAGING ROOM ARE THE TWO ICA'S IN THE CURRENT DEMONSTRATION PROJECT. THESE AREAS ARE INTERCONNECTED BY A SECURE COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK. IN ADDITION, AS MANY AS 11 ICA'S COULD BE ACCOMMODATED BY THE PRESENT MAC/MOC/SOC COMPLEX. PROTOTYPE SYSTEMS ARE BEING CONSTRUCTED AT HANFORD, WASHINGTON, D.C., AND ALBUQUERQUE, N. MEX., AND WILL BE SUBJECTED TO A COMPREHENSIVE TESTING AND EVALUATION PROGRAM. MAJOR GENERIC CONCEPTS THAT ARE BEING EVALUATED IN THIS SYSTEM ARE DETAILED, AND TESTING METHODS ARE DESCRIBED. SOME ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE PPS SYSTEM ARE INCLUDED. (WJR)