IAEA Completes Nuclear Security Review Mission in Canada | WPN World People News

A team of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) experts on 30 October completed a two-week mission to review national nuclear security practices in Canada. The International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) was carried out at the request of the Government of the Canada.

The mission reviewed Canada’s nuclear security-related legislative and regulatory framework for nuclear and other radioactive material and associated facilities, as well as security arrangements for the transport of nuclear and other radioactive material and for information and computer security systems. In addition, physical protection systems were reviewed at the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station and the Western Used Fuel Dry Storage Facility as well as at Nordion Inc.’s nuclear substance processing facility in Ottawa and the Nuclear Research Reactor of McMaster University.

The IPPAS team noted that Canada is undertaking strong and sustainable nuclear security activities. Moreover, the team identified a number of good practices in the national nuclear security regime and at the visited facilities. The team also made recommendations and suggestions for continuous improvement in nuclear security.

“The example given today by Canada, and previously by the other 42 countries that have hosted IPPAS missions, strongly reinforces both the value of establishing and applying IAEA Nuclear Security Guidance documents and the need to continuously improve physical protection and nuclear security nationally and globally,” said Khammar Mrabit, Director of the IAEA’s Division of Nuclear Security.

The IAEA team, led by Nancy Fragoyannis of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the United States, comprised 10 experts from eight States and the IAEA. The team met in Ottawa with officials from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) as well as the Departments of Public Safety, Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Transport, and Natural Resources; the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canada Border Services, Ontario Provincial Police, Hamilton Police, Ottawa Police Services, Bruce Power, Ontario Power Generation, McMaster University, and Nordion.

“Canada requested this IPPAS mission with a view to continuous improvement to the nuclear security regime and the mission was a great success,” said Dr. Michael Binder, President and Chief Executive Officer of the CNSC. “Canada and the CNSC have always maintained robust nuclear security measures. We will review the IPPAS recommendations and suggestions with a view to further improving Canada’s nuclear security regime to achieve our goal of never compromising security.”

source: International Atomic Energy Agency