Nuclear Nonproliferation

Concerns With the U.S. International Nuclear Materials Tracking System Gao ID: T-RCED/AIMD-96-91 February 28, 1996

A proposed agreement between the United States and the European Atomic Energy Community would impose controls on the export of some nuclear materials, nuclear reactors, and their major components between the United States and 15 western European nations. Keeping track of the growing volume of nuclear material is especially important because of the breakup of the Soviet Union and increases in both domestic and international terrorism. GAO testified that the Energy Department's (DOE) nuclear-materials tracking system, which serves as the primary source of information for the United States to track U.S. nuclear materials transported to foreign countries, has significant limitations. Moreover, recent information suggests that DOE's replacement tracking system faces a high probability of failure because it has not been completely developed and tested.



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