P 041551Z MAY 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT PRIORITY

UNCLAS STATE 045012 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC TX PARM KNNP TRGY
SUBJECT: U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION OFFER TO 
GOVERNMENT OF TURKMENISTAN FOR COOPERATION ON REGULATORY 
STRENGTHENING FOR RADIOACTIVE SOURCES 
 
¶1.    THIS IS AN ACTION REQUEST.  See paragraph 6. 
 
¶2.    SUMMARY:  The United States Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission (USNRC) would like to extend a formal offer to the 
Government of Turkmenistan (GOTX) to participate in both 
bilateral and regional efforts to enhance regulatory 
oversight of radioactive sources.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶3.  BACKGROUND: After the September 11, 2001, attacks, the 
USNRC performed a review of regulatory control in the 
Caucasus and Central Asia regions.  In response to concerns 
that radioactive materials within these regions could be 
obtained for use in either a radiological dispersal device 
(RDD, or "dirty bomb") or radiation exposure device (RED), 
NRC initiated an effort with the regulatory authorities of 
the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States to 
enhance regulatory oversight and control of radioactive 
sources.  Initial efforts, which began in 2002, focused on 
Armenia.  Since that time, the program has expanded to 
include Georgia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Ukraine, 
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.  USNRC's efforts help 
lower the risk of radioactive materials being used in either 
an RDD or RED by assisting each regulatory authority in 
developing and maintaining a national registry of radioactive 
sources (including performing a country-wide inventorization 
of radioactive sources) and by supporting development of the 
technical and legal infrastructure needed to exercise 
effective regulatory oversight of radioactive sources. 
 
¶4. USNRC representatives, along with representatives of the 
Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security 
Administration, visited Turkmenistan in November 2008.  The 
USNRC representatives provided an overview of USNRC's ongoing 
or planned radioactive source-related assistance efforts to a 
number of GOTX officials.  One recommendation from GOTX 
officials was for USNRC to submit, via the U.S. Embassy, a 
more detailed project plan outlining potential future areas 
of cooperation between USNRC and the Turkmen regulatory 
authority (or authorities).  This cable, consistent with the 
Turkmen suggestion, provides more information about the 
assistance that USNRC could provide.  Development of a 
detailed project plan will require further understanding of 
the needs of Turkmenistan, and therefore a follow-up trip is 
proposed in the future.  END BACKGROUND. 
 
¶5.  SCOPE OF COOPERATION ENVISIONED:  USNRC would like to 
work with its regulatory counterpart (or counterparts) in 
Turkmenistan to assist in building and maintaining a national 
registry of radioactive sources (including performance of a 
country-wide inventorization).  This effort would focus on 
identifying radioactive sources that are in use, in storage, 
or disused.  USNRC would also like to work with the Turkmen 
regulator (or regulators) to assess technical and legal 
infrastructure needs and provide assistance as necessary. 
All USNRC-sponsored efforts are conducted consistent with the 
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Code of Conduct on 
the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources.  END SCOPE OF 
COOPERATION ENVISIONED. 
 
¶6.    ACTION REQUEST: Post is requested to deliver the 
following letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the 
Government of Turkmenistan. 
 
BEGIN TEXT: 
 
 
Appropriate Salutation 
 
I am writing to follow up our productive meetings of November 
11-14, 2008, in Ashgabat and to propose a path forward for 
our cooperation.  As discussed in November, the United States 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC, the nuclear safety and 
security regulatory authority for the commercial sector in 
the United States) is interested in establishing close 
cooperation with our nuclear regulatory counterpart (or 
counterparts) within the Government of Turkmenistan on 
regulatory control of radioactive sources for safety and 
security. 
 
The USNRC has been working since 2002 with the regulatory 
authorities of many countries of the Commonwealth of 
Independent States (CIS) to establish national registries for 
radioactive sources.  USNRC has also provided technical 
assistance to our CIS regulatory counterparts for licensing 
and inspecting radioactive sources (including providing 
training).  The USNRC program is active in Armenia, Georgia, 
Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, 
Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.  Most of these regulatory 
authorities have completed their national registries, 
performed country-wide inventorization and are continuing to 
work with NRC in developing guidance material for their 
staffs to carry out regulatory functions.  All of the 
countries also meet once a year in a regional meeting to 
share experiences related to their respective regulatory 
programs. 
 
As the next step for our cooperative efforts, we propose that 
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs identify the Turkmen 
regulatory counterpart (or counterparts) that USNRC could 
work with in a similar cooperative effort.  We expect this 
would include the Ministry of Health and the Science and 
Technology Council (under the Cabinet of Ministers).  The 
USNRC requests that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs agree to 
and arrange a meeting between USNRC and the appropriate 
regulatory counterparts at a mutually convenient date. 
 
USNRC looks forward to a positive response to our proposal so 
that we can begin mutually beneficial cooperation towards 
enhancing safety and security regulatory oversight of 
radioactive sources in Turkmenistan.  USNRC also looks 
forward to discussing these program elements further with the 
appropriate Turkmen regulatory authority (or authorities). 
 
Sincerely, 
 
 
Jennifer Tobin 
Project Manager 
Office of International Programs 
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 
 
 
END TEXT. 
 
¶7. Department thanks Post for its assistance in this matter. 
Please slug responses to USNRC and State/ISN/NESS.  Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission POC is: Jenny Tobin, Ph.:(301) 
415-2328, Fax: (301) 415-2395 E-Mail: 
jennifer.tobin"at"nrc.gov and Jack Ramsey, Ph.: (301) 
415-2744, Fax: (301) 415-2395 E-Mail: jack.ramsey"at"nrc.gov. 
Department POC is:  Brendan Plapp, Ph.: (202) 647-6109, Fax: 
(202) 647-0775 Email: plappbb"at"state.gov. 
 
 
CLINTON