Created in the 1980s by the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, this rarely-seen technical film profiles the International Atomic Energy Agency and its Department of Safeguards and discusses how it is implementing a nuclear safeguard program so that nuclear materials from power plants are not used to create weapons. The idea of having periodic on-site inspectors by IAEA personnel under the “remote continual verification system” (aka RECOVER) was evaluated for a number of major nuclear fuel-cycle facility types. Those considered were light-water reactors, pressurized heavy-water power reactors (specifically, CANDU-600’s), fast critical facilities (modelled after the Japanese facility, FCA), mixed-oxide fuel-fabrication plants, spent-fuel reprocessing plants, and inactive stores of plutonium or highly-enriched uranium. The purpose was not only to continually monitor safeguard devices at reactors worldwide, and to deter weaponization by any party.
As part of the program video cameras, fiber optic and mechanical seals, computerized multiplexers and other devices were employed by the Department of Energy and the Arms Control Agency.
The primary role of the Department of Safeguards is to deter the proliferation of nuclear weapons. It does so in two ways: by providing credible assurances that States are honouring their international obligations, thus helping to build international confidence, and by being able to detect early any misuse of nuclear material or technology, thereby alerting the world to potential proliferation.
To do so, the Department applies various technical measures referred to as ‘safeguards’ to verify the correctness and the completeness of the declarations made by States about their nuclear material and activities. IAEA safeguards are an essential component of the international security system.
The U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency (ACDA) was established as an independent agency of the United States government by the Arms Control and Disarmament Act, Pub.L. 87–297, 75 Stat. 631, enacted September 26, 1961. The H.R. 9118 bill was drafted by presidential adviser John J. McCloy. Its predecessor was the U.S. Disarmament Administration, part of the Department of State (1960–61). Its mission was to strengthen United States national security by “formulating, advocating, negotiating, implementing and verifying effective arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament policies, strategies, and agreements.”
In so doing, ACDA ensured that arms control was fully integrated into the development and conduct of United States national security policy. ACDA also conducted, supported, and coordinated research for arms control and disarmament policy formulation, prepared for and managed U.S. participation in international arms control and disarmament negotiations, and prepared, operated, and directed U.S. participation in international arms control and disarmament systems.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
