U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFER TO

UNCLAS STATE 045012 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC TX PARM KNNP TRGY SUBJECT: U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFER TO GOVERNMENT OF TURKMENISTAN FOR COOPERATION ON REGULATORY STRENGTHENING FOR RADIOACTIVE SOURCES ¶1. THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST. See paragraph 6. ¶2. SUMMARY: The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) would like to extend a formal offer to the Government of Turkmenistan (GOTX) to participate in both bilateral and regional efforts to enhance regulatory oversight of radioactive sources. END SUMMARY. ¶3. BACKGROUND: After the September 11, 2001, attacks, the USNRC performed a review of regulatory control in the Caucasus and Central Asia regions. In response to concerns that radioactive materials within these regions could be obtained for use in either a radiological dispersal device (RDD, or "dirty bomb") or radiation exposure device (RED), NRC initiated an effort with the regulatory authorities of the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States to enhance regulatory oversight and control of radioactive sources. Initial efforts, which began in 2002, focused on Armenia. Since that time, the program has expanded to include Georgia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. USNRC's efforts help lower the risk of radioactive materials being used in either an RDD or RED by assisting each regulatory authority in developing and maintaining a national registry of radioactive sources (including performing a country-wide inventorization of radioactive sources) and by supporting development of the technical and legal infrastructure needed to exercise effective regulatory oversight of radioactive sources. ¶4. USNRC representatives, along with representatives of the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration, visited Turkmenistan in November 2008. The USNRC representatives provided an overview of USNRC's ongoing or planned radioactive source-related assistance efforts to a number of GOTX officials. One recommendation from GOTX officials was for USNRC to submit, via the U.S. Embassy, a more detailed project plan outlining potential future areas of cooperation between USNRC and the Turkmen regulatory authority (or authorities). This cable, consistent with the Turkmen suggestion, provides more information about the assistance that USNRC could provide. Development of a detailed project plan will require further understanding of the needs of Turkmenistan, and therefore a follow-up trip is proposed in the future. END BACKGROUND. 
 ¶5. SCOPE OF COOPERATION ENVISIONED: USNRC would like to work with its regulatory counterpart (or counterparts) in Turkmenistan to assist in building and maintaining a national registry of radioactive sources (including performance of a country-wide inventorization). This effort would focus on identifying radioactive sources that are in use, in storage, or disused. USNRC would also like to work with the Turkmen regulator (or regulators) to assess technical and legal infrastructure needs and provide assistance as necessary. All USNRC-sponsored efforts are conducted consistent with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources. END SCOPE OF COOPERATION ENVISIONED. ¶6. ACTION REQUEST: Post is requested to deliver the following letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Turkmenistan. BEGIN TEXT: Appropriate Salutation I am writing to follow up our productive meetings of November 11-14, 2008, in Ashgabat and to propose a path forward for our cooperation. As discussed in November, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC, the nuclear safety and security regulatory authority for the commercial sector in the United States) is interested in establishing close cooperation with our nuclear regulatory counterpart (or counterparts) within the Government of Turkmenistan on regulatory control of radioactive sources for safety and security. The USNRC has been working since 2002 with the regulatory authorities of many countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to establish national registries for radioactive sources. USNRC has also provided technical assistance to our CIS regulatory counterparts for licensing and inspecting radioactive sources (including providing training). The USNRC program is active in Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Most of these regulatory authorities have completed their national registries, performed country-wide inventorization and are continuing to work with NRC in developing guidance material for their staffs to carry out regulatory functions. All of the countries also meet once a year in a regional meeting to share experiences related to their respective regulatory programs. As the next step for our cooperative efforts, we propose that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs identify the Turkmen regulatory counterpart (or counterparts) that USNRC could work with in a similar cooperative effort. We expect this would include the Ministry of Health and the Science and Technology Council (under the Cabinet of Ministers). The USNRC requests that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs agree to and arrange a meeting between USNRC and the appropriate regulatory counterparts at a mutually convenient date. USNRC looks forward to a positive response to our proposal so that we can begin mutually beneficial cooperation towards enhancing safety and security regulatory oversight of radioactive sources in Turkmenistan. USNRC also looks forward to discussing these program elements further with the appropriate Turkmen regulatory authority (or authorities). Sincerely, Jennifer Tobin Project Manager Office of International Programs U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission END TEXT. ¶7. Department thanks Post for its assistance in this matter. Please slug responses to USNRC and State/ISN/NESS. Nuclear Regulatory Commission POC is: Jenny Tobin, Ph.:(301) 415-2328, Fax: (301) 415-2395 E-Mail: jennifer.tobin"at"nrc.gov and Jack Ramsey, Ph.: (301) 415-2744, Fax: (301) 415-2395 E-Mail: jack.ramsey"at"nrc.gov. Department POC is: Brendan Plapp, Ph.: (202) 647-6109, Fax: (202) 647-0775 Email: plappbb"at"state.gov. CLINTON