U.S., Canada sign MOU on safeguards and nonproliferation

October 19, 2020, 9:29AMNuclear News

Brent Park, the NNSA’s deputy administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, and Richard Sexton (on screen), president and chief executive officer of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, show the signed agreement. Photo: NNSA

The United States and Canada have signed a memorandum of understanding—Cooperation and Exchange of Information in Nuclear Security, Safeguards, and Nonproliferation Matters—to enable a more effective collaboration between the two countries in the areas of nuclear safety and security.

The five-year agreement was signed virtually on October 16 by Brent Park, the National Nuclear Security Administration’s deputy administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, and two Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) executives: Richard Sexton, president and chief executive officer, and Shannon Quinn, vice president of Science, Technology, and Commercial Oversight.

Agreement items: The NNSA and AECL have a history of collaboration. The agreement includes the sharing of knowledge and information, including cross-training, workshops, and exercises, as well as collaboration on research and development.

Park comment: “Accomplishments like these are important to celebrate, especially when travel and face-to-face engagements are not possible during the COVID-19 global pandemic,” Park said. “We look forward to further cooperation with our Canadian partners.”

Agency notes: NNSA is a semiautonomous agency within the U.S. Department of Energy that is responsible for enhancing national security through nuclear science.

AECL is Canada's largest nuclear science and technology laboratory. Its mandate is to protect the environment by fulfilling the government of Canada’s radioactive waste and decommissioning responsibilities.


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