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Hypothetical Case and Scenario Description for International Transportation of Spent Nuclear Fuel

Williams, Adam D.; Osborn, Douglas M.; Jones, Katherine A.; Kalinina, Elena A.; Cohn, Brian C.; Thomas, Maikael A.; Parks, Mancel J.; Parks, Ethan R.; Mohagheghi, Amir H.

To support more rigorous analysis on global security issues at Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), there is a need to develop realistic data sets without using "real" data or identifying "real" vulnerabilities, hazards or geopolitically embarrassing shortcomings. In response, an interdisciplinary team led by subject matter experts in SNL's Center for Global Security and Cooperation (CGSC) developed a hypothetical case description. This hypothetical case description assigns various attributes related to international SNF transportation that are representative, illustrative and indicative of "real" characteristics of "real" countries. There is no intent to identify any particular country and any similarity with specific real-world events is purely coincidental. To support the goal of this report to provide a case description (and set of scenarios of concern) for international SNF transportation inclusive of as much "real-world" complexity as possible -- without crossing over into politically sensitive or classified information -- this SAND report provides a subject matter expert-validated (and detailed) description of both technical and political influences on the international transportation of spent nuclear fuel.

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TYPE SAND Report YEAR 2017
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System Theoretic Frameworks for Mitigating Risk Complexity in the Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Williams, Adam D.; Osborn, Douglas M.; Jones, Katherine A.; Kalinina, Elena A.; Cohn, Brian C.; Mohagheghi, Amir H.; DeMenno, Mercy D.; Thomas, Maikael A.; Parks, Mancel J.; Parks, Ethan R.; Jeantete, Brian A.

In response to the expansion of nuclear fuel cycle (NFC) activities -- and the associated suite of risks -- around the world, this project evaluated systems-based solutions for managing such risk complexity in multimodal and multi-jurisdictional international spent nuclear fuel (SNF) transportation. By better understanding systemic risks in SNF transportation, developing SNF transportation risk assessment frameworks, and evaluating these systems-based risk assessment frameworks, this research illustrated interdependency between safety, security, and safeguards risks is inherent in NFC activities and can go unidentified when each "S" is independently evaluated. Two novel system-theoretic analysis techniques -- dynamic probabilistic risk assessment (DPRA) and system-theoretic process analysis (STPA) -- provide integrated "3S" analysis to address these interdependencies and the research results suggest a need -- and provide a way -- to reprioritize United States engagement efforts to reduce global nuclear risks. Lastly, this research identifies areas where Sandia National Laboratories can spearhead technical advances to reduce global nuclear dangers.

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TYPE SAND Report YEAR 2017
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Field trial of the enhanced data authentication system (EDAS)

ESARDA Bulletin

Thomas, Maikael A.; Hymel, Ross W.; Baldwin, George T.; Smejkal, Andreas S.; Linnebach, Ralf L.

The Enhanced Data Authentication System (EDAS) is means to securely branch information from an existing measurement system or data stream to a secondary observer. In an international nuclear safeguards context, the EDAS connects to operator instrumentation, and provides a cryptographically secure copy of the information for a safeguards inspectorate. However, this novel capability could be a valuable complement to inspector-owned safeguards instrumentation, offering context that is valuable for anomaly resolution and contingency.

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TYPE Journal Article YEAR 2017
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Results 1–25 of 45
Results 1–25 of 45