In addition, the NMMSS provides NRC with data on nuclear materials accountability and safeguards for NRC licensees. U.S. Ability to Track Nuclear Materials Internationally Is Limited

The United States relies primarily on the NMMSS to track the nuclear materials that it exports to foreign countries. However, this system does not have all of the information needed to track the current location and status of all nuclear materials of U.S. origin that are supplied to foreign countries. The amounts, types, and reliability of the data contained in the NMMSS depend largely on data reported under the international agreements for cooperation, as well as on foreign countries’ and on U.S. and foreign facilities’ willingness to report complete and accurate data. In addition, DOE did not adequately plan the development effort for the new NMMSS. In addition, because the new NMMSS will simply replicate the current NMMSS’ functions, it will be subject to the same nuclear materials tracking limitations that existed previously. DOE has initiated efforts to improve the United States’ ability to track nuclear materials internationally. Physical Protection of Exported U.S.-Supplied Nuclear Materials Requires Foreign Countries’ Cooperation

To ensure the physical protection of exported U.S.-supplied civilian-use nuclear materials, the United States relies on the protection systems in recipient countries, these countries’ compliance with IAEA’s guidelines, and U.S. evaluations of the adequacy of their physical protection systems (e.g., security devices and guards, etc.). We also reviewed the new NMMSS’ planning documentation.
Why GAO Did This Study

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed how the United States tracks its exported civilian nuclear materials and ensures their physical protection, focusing on the: (1) capabilities of the Department of Energy's (DOE) computerized Nuclear Materials Management and Safeguards System (NMMSS) to track the international movement of nuclear materials; and (2) adequacy of DOE planned new NMMSS.

What GAO Found

GAO found that: (1) the United States relies primarily on NMMSS to track exported nuclear materials, but the system does not have enough information to track all nuclear materials that are supplied to foreign countries; (2) the reliability of NMMSS data depends on the data reported under international agreements, as well as foreign countries' willingness to report complete and accurate data; (3) the new NMMSS will replicate current NMMSS functions and contain the same tracking limitations that currently exist; (4) DOE has not adequately planned the development effort for the new NMMSS and cannot ensure that the new NMMSS will meet users' needs; (5) neither the current nor planned new NMMSS can provide data on nuclear materials of foreign origin; (6) DOE collects information on nuclear materials worldwide through other sources that may not always be accurate; (7) the U.S. government's ability to ensure that exported nuclear materials are adequately protected is contingent on foreign countries' cooperation; and (8) while the United States conducts on-site evaluations of foreign countries' physical protection systems, recommendations that may result from these visits are not binding on the country.