The United States and Canada are working together to improve and better coordinate nuclear safety and security.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and the Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for Cooperation and Exchange of Information in Nuclear Security, Safeguards, and Nonproliferation Matters.
“Accomplishments like these are important to celebrate, especially when travel and face-to-face engagements are not possible during the COVID-19 global pandemic,” Dr. Brent Park, NNSA’s deputy administrator for defense nuclear nonproliferation, said. “We look forward to further cooperation with our Canadian partners.”
The five-year agreement was signed virtually on Oct. 16 by Park of NNSA and Richard Sexton, president and CEO, and Shannon Quinn, vice-president, science, technology, and commercial oversight, of AECL.
The agreement solidifies the strong relationship and mutual goals and priorities of these two organizations. The agreement includes the sharing of knowledge and information, including cross-training, workshops, and exercises, as well as collaboration on research and development.
AECL is a Canadian federal Crown corporation and Canada’s largest nuclear science and technology laboratory. It is charged with enabling nuclear science and technology and protecting the environment by fulfilling Canada’s radioactive waste and decommissioning responsibilities.