U.S. Additional Protocol

 

On March 5, 1970, the United States became a party to a treaty that banned nation states from transferring nuclear weapons to non-nuclear weapon nation states.  The United States signed an “Additional Protocol” to this treaty in 1998, with Senate consent on March 31, 2004, followed by congressional implementation legislation on December 6, 2006.  The Additional Protocol requires the United States to file certain reports on its nuclear fuel cycle activities with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and to permit IAEA access to sites and other locations involved in nuclear fuel cycle activities when it requests.  

 

To implement these requirements, several agencies, but not the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), published regulations.  MSHA has no regulatory authority concerning this matter and its only role is to provide the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, guidance to mine operators identified as part of the nuclear cycle.  The U.S. Department of Commerce published in the Federal Register a Proposed Rule addressing Additional Protocol Regulations on July 25, 2008, which can be viewed at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-16815.pdf.  The final rule was published on October 31, 2008, and the first report from mine operators is due to the U.S. Department of Commerce by November 30, 2008.

 

Information announcing An Informational Seminar on the U.S. Additional Protocol (A.P.), which also lists the appropriate contact information for affected mine operators, can be viewed at www.ap.gov or on the attached flyer.  The U.S. Department of Commerce and Nuclear Regulatory Commission will be conducting this seminar on November 6, 2008, in the U.S. Department of Commerce building in Washington, D.C.  

 

    - See Seminar Flyer