International Workshop on Gamma Spectrometry Analysis Codes for U and Pu Isotopics: Workshop Results and Next Steps.

In November 2008, the Institute of Nuclear Materials Management (INMM) Central Region Chapter (CRC) in conjunction with the Materials Control and Accountability Division (MC&A) and the European Safeguards Research and Development Association (ESARDA) co-hosted the International Workshop on Gamma Spectrometry Analysis Codes for U and Pu Isotopics at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). This workshop was conducted in response to needs expressed by the international safeguards community to better understand the capabilities and limitations of the codes; to ensure these codes are sustained; and to ensure updates or revisions are performed in a controlled manner. The workshop evolved from an effort conducted under a bilateral agreement between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Brazilian-Argentine Agency for Accounting and Control of Nuclear Materials (ABACC). Under this agreement, DOE and ABACC collaborate to implement safeguards methods and techniques to support ABACC inspections at nuclear fuel cycle facilities in South America. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and EURATOM are invited to participate as observers on the collaborative activities specific to these codes. All parties agreed that an international working group should be formed to provide a forum to exchange information, discuss technical developments, and validate and test the various codes. This workshop was the first recommendation conducted under the newly formed working group. The workshop was attended by approximately 100 participants, 30% of whom represented foreign countries. The participants included code developers, code suppliers, safeguards specialists, domestic and international inspectors, process operators, regulators, and program sponsors from various government agencies. The workshop provided a unique opportunity for code developers, commercial distributors, and end users to interact in a hands-on laboratory environment to develop solutions for programmatic and technical issues associated with the various codes. The workshop also provided an international forum for discussing development of an internationally accepted standard test method. This paper discusses the organization of the workshop, its goals and objectives and feedback received from the participants. The paper also describes the significance of the working group's contribution to improving codes commonly used during inspections to verify that nuclear facilities are compliant with treaty obligations that ensure nuclear fuel cycle facilities are used for peaceful purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]