On August 7, I met with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Office of Nuclear Security Director Khammar Mrabit to sign the DHS-IAEA Practical Arrangements, representing an important step forward in the enhancement of the global nuclear security framework.
The Practical Arrangements build upon the extensive collaborative relationship between DHS and the IAEA, outlining the importance of strengthening nuclear security, and denoting four key areas for cooperation. These areas include: the implementation and development of guidelines for the IAEA Nuclear Security Series of publications that provide international guidelines and best practices related to nuclear security; collaboration on the standards, testing, characterization, and evaluation for nuclear detection instruments; providing expertise to the Nuclear Security Support Centres and Academic Research Initiatives as they pertain to radiation/nuclear detection; and cooperation in the development and review of nuclear forensics related best practices and guidelines.
Since July 2011, DNDO and the IAEA have been working together to develop a joint work plan identifying areas for DHS-IAEA cooperation on nuclear security. DNDO is responsible for coordinating the U.S. government’s interagency efforts to develop the Global Nuclear Detection Architecture (GNDA), a layered defense against nuclear and radiological terrorism.