US NRC Signs Nuclear Safety Cooperation Agreements with Seven Nations

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has signed agreements with seven countries for "peaceful cooperation" in nuclear safety matters.

The NRC has renewed four technical information exchange agreements with Japan, Lithuania, Slovakia, and South Korea and initiated a new arrangement with Poland.

In addition, the NRC renewed a memoranda of cooperation (MOC) for the import and export of certain radioactive sources with Canada and initiated a new MOC with Australia.

Agreements, renewed on a five-year basis, will extend commitment of mutual interest in nuclear safety and facilitate bilateral activities and information sharing between the NRC and other countries.

The NRC's international cooperation programme includes exchange of information on areas of mutual interest such as operating reactors, control over radioactive sources, safety research and radiation protection.

It also covers areas such as emergency preparedness, risk assessment, licensing, inspection, enforcement, waste management and security.

The NRC also provides assistance to countries developing regulatory programmes through training, workshops, peer reviews and exchange of technical experts.