Return on investment in nuclear security: regulations and physical security

Abstract

Nuclear security is a crucial part of the nuclear industry, and therefore it is important to observe, research and improve its return on investment (ROI). Investments are made not only in the physical security itself, but also in the regulatory framework, and they should be studied holistically when discussing ROI in nuclear security. This research will analyze the regulatory aspect by analyzing administrative monetary penalties (AMP) in the nuclear industry, and the application of drones in nuclear security, from the side of nuclear facility/licensee security. An AMP is a penalty imposed by the regulator, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, without court involvement, in the case of a violation of a regulatory requirement. The research includes analysis of AMP, with the focus on the advantages and disadvantages of the AMP system and recommendations for improvements for future implementation. Furthermore, the research focusses on how AMP are implemented in various low probability-high consequence industries, as well as the nuclear industry in Canada and the United States. The emphasis is on the differences in these industries’ approaches and how they may be used to improve the implementation in the nuclear industry. Nuclear facilities invest significantly in security, both for security guards and security tools. Even though drones are relatively new technology, they have been utilized as a tool in emergency situations, fires, floods, search and rescue operations, and surveillance. Due to their characteristics, they show potential for utilization in nuclear security, as they show certain advantages over traditional security systems. The research describes how drones can be effectively utilized in nuclear power plants to complement existing measures and in some cases, replace them. Finally, through both aspects, it will be shown that ROI in nuclear security can be improved by minor modification of policies or by introducing new tools. Positive ROI is not aways represented by monetary value, but an outcome that meets or exceeds the expectations.