Preventing Nuclear Terrorism: an Agenda for the Next President

In this summary of the more comprehensive "Securing the Bomb 2008" report, Matthew Bunn and Andrew Newman argue for a better coordinated approach from the new U.S. administration towards improving nuclear security and countering the threat of nuclear terrorism. Specifically, they advocate filling a senior position within the National Security Council spearheading the overall U.S. government effort in these areas, and allocating up to $500 million to this office.

One of the recommendations is for the new adminstration to work with other key nations to improve sustainability of nuclear security upgrades and improve security culture -- as was emphasized in the 2005 Bush-Putin Bratislava Initiative. With the IAEA Security Culture Implementing Guide in place, all that is needed is for the amended Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials and Facilities to become legally binding. This is, however, still a remote possibility with only 19 states accepting or ratifying the document, as of October 2008, out of 60+ needed for it to come into force.

NNSA Secures One of the World’s Largest Nuclear Storage Facilities

NNSA Helps Increase Security for Tens of Tons of Weapons-Grade Nuclear Material

A major cooperative effort to secure weapons-grade nuclear material is now completed at the Mayak Production Association in Ozersk, Russia, a senior official with the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) said today, calling it a milestone in joint nuclear security work. It is the largest nuclear materials storage facility that NNSA has completed security upgrades on to date. Over the past decade, NNSA and Rosatom, Russia's nuclear energy and materials entity, have been working on the modernization of security measures at the long-term storage facility, which holds highly enriched uranium and plutonium. Read full story...

IAEA Releases Nuclear Security Culture Implementing Guide

After several years of development, deliberation, and approvals from member-states, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has released an Implementing Guide on Nuclear Security Culture (STI/PUB/1347). The 24-page document discusses the concept and characteristics of nuclear security culture, the importance of human factor in nuclear security, and specific roles of institutions and individuals in implementing an effective nuclear security regime. Nuclear security culture became a component in the Amendment to the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials and Facilities (CPPNM) (Fundamental Principle F), and, after CPPNM comes into force, will become mandatory for implementation by member-states of the IAEA.