Fact Sheet: Joint Statement on Cyber Security

THE WHITE HOUSE 

Office of the Press Secretary

___________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release

FACT SHEET 

Cyber Security of Industrial Control and Plant Systems at Nuclear Facilities

Nuclear facilities deploy a myriad of technologies and digital assets as an essential component of well-balanced safety, security and safeguards programs.  The use of digital technologies has greatly improved the efficiency and effectiveness of  industrial control systems, but it is crucial that these systems are able to withstand malicious attacks or accidental damage.  On-going efforts to mitigate the vulnerabilities of information management systems need to extend to industrial control systems.  

The United Kingdom has sponsored a Gift Basket on Cyber Security of Industrial Control and Plant Systems and Nuclear Facilities to increase attention in this area.  As called for in this statement, the United States will participate in the two international workshops on this topic and highlight the findings at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) International Conference on Nuclear Security in December 2016.  The United States will also continue to work with willing partners to develop and implement policies that address the dynamic and global nature of the cyber threat, so as to enable risk informed decisions about how to protect strategic national assets.  This will include a joint U.S.-UK civil nuclear exercise, building on the successful Resilient Shield exercise held last November between the and U.S. and UK financial sectors, designed to test government and industry response to cybersecurity threats.

These efforts complement our efforts to promote broad international affirmation of voluntary norms of responsible state behavior in peacetime, including that states should not conduct or knowingly support online activity that intentionally damages critical infrastructure or otherwise impairs the use of critical infrastructure to provide services to the public.

Fact Sheet: Status of the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM)

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release                        

FACT SHEET

Status of the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the

Physical Protection of Nuclear Material

The United States welcomes the recent ratifications of the 2005 Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM/A), which, once those countries to deposit their instrument of ratification with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), will bring this important treaty into force.  This treaty fills a gap in the existing international regime by modernizing the international legal framework for nuclear security, which is essential to our efforts to prevent terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction or sabotaging nuclear facilties.  The 2005 Amendment strengthens the original Convention by imposing requirements for the physical protection of nuclear material for peaceful purposes in storage, use and domestic transport and security at related facilities.  Once the CPPNM/A enters into force, it becomes legally binding and will allow for the IAEA to convene regular review conferences on the implementation of the treaty.

The amendment will enter into force thirty days after two-thirds of the 153 states party to the CPPNM deposit their instruments of ratification with the IAEA.  As of April 1, 2016, 102 states party have deposited their instrument of ratification; two additional states party must deposit instruments of ratification for the amendment to enter into force.  The United States deposited its instrument of ratification for the amendment with the IAEA on July 31, 2015.  The United States has emphasized the importance of depositing the instruments of ratification and is offering assistance as needed to achieve the universalization of the Amended Convention, noting that 78 countries have ratified since April 2009. 

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Fact Sheet: Update on Joint Statement on Strengthening Nuclear Security Implementation (INFCIRC 869)

THE WHITE HOUSE 

Office of the Press Secretary

________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release                        

FACT SHEET

Update on INFCIRC 869

On October 9, 2014, the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, on behalf of its Government and 34 other countries (full list below), conveyed to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Secretariat the “Joint Statement on Strengthening Nuclear Security Implementation” from the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit and requested that it be circulated to all IAEA Member States.  The subscribing states pledged to take specific steps, including implementing key IAEA nuclear security guidance, accepting voluntary peer reviews, and committing that those responsible for nuclear security are demonstrably competent.  The Dutch note verbale  encouraged all States to meet the intent of these essential elements of a nuclear security regime and to commit to the effective and sustainable implementation of the principles therein.  The IAEA has circulated the 2014 Joint Statement as INFCIRC/869, to which all IAEA Member States could ascribe.

On November 13, 2015, Jordan pledged its commitment to the Joint Statement on Strengthening Nuclear Security Implementation, as contained in INFCIRC/869.  Jordan is the 36th IAEA member state to subscribe to the statement, and the first to do so outside the Summit process.

The United States continues to encourage all IAEA member states to indicate their commitment to implement the provisions of INFCIRC/869, noting that such public commitments provide public assurances that nuclear materials are effectively secured and underscore support for the IAEA and its nuclear security efforts.

Full List of Subscribers

Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Mexico, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Vietnam.

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Fact Sheet: Joint Statement on Certified Training

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release                       

FACT SHEET

Certified Training for Nuclear Security Management

The challenges associated with managing nuclear and other radiological materials are varied and complex, and it is essential that states to their utmost to maintain security over such materials.  Effective security relies upon the competence of management and personnel who are responsible for this work.  Therefore, it is crucial that managers and personnel responsible for nuclear security continuously maintain and improve their skills.  Much progress has been made in this area since the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit, particularly with the development of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Information Circular 869 and with the establishment of the World Institute of Nuclear Security (WINS) Academy Nuclear Security Management Certification Program.

The WINS Academy is a comprehensive training program for nuclear security professionals, with modules that cover a wide variety of disciplines.  Upon successful completion, students become Certified Nuclear Security Professionals.  Certification is valid for three years, after which time recertification is required.  The program is designed to develop a network of certified professional who are affecting meaningful and sustainable changes to nuclear security worldwide.

In support of this issue, Canada has sponsored the Gift Basket on Certified Training for Nuclear Security Management.  As a signatory to this Gift Basket, the United States commits to further support the WINS Academy, including through the provision of advocacy, peer review support, contributions, or by other means as necessary, and to promote cooperative efforts between the WINS Academy and the IAEA.  The United States has supported WINS through federal grants and works with the both IAEA and directly with partner countries to provide a wide variety of training to personnel responsible for securing nuclear and radiological materials.

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Joint Statement on Certified Training

Joint Statement on

Certified Training for Nuclear Security Management

2016 Nuclear Security Summit in Washington D.C.

Introduction

Gathered in Washington D.C. on the occasion of the fourth Nuclear Security Summit, the leaders of Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States welcome the progress that has been made by states to commit to the effective and sustainable implementation of the essential elements of nuclear security guidance, particularly in the area of ensuring that management and personnel with accountability for nuclear security are demonstrably competent.   

At the 2014 Hague Nuclear Security Summit, thirty five states sponsored a Joint Statement on Strengthening Nuclear Security Implementation.  The aim of this Joint Statement was for Subscribing States, at their own discretion, to meet the intent of the essential elements of a nuclear security regime and to commit to the effective and sustainable implementation of the principles therein. The Joint Statement on Strengthening Nuclear Security Implementation was subsequently published by the IAEA in 2014 as INFCIRC/869 and is open for any IAEA Member State to support.

One of the four key commitments outlined in the Joint Statement on Strengthening Nuclear Security Implementation is for Subscribing States to “Ensure that management and personnel with accountability for nuclear security are demonstrably competent.” The challenges associated with managing nuclear and other radiological materials are complex, and it is essential that States ensure that such materials remain secure. The Joint Statement outlines two ways in which States can support the training of effective and competent managers of those materials and related facilities:

• Maintaining and continuously improving domestic or regional training through education, certification and/or qualification activities; and
• Supporting or participating in the development of World Institute for Nuclear Security (WINS) best practice guides and training activities.

In support of the commitments in the Joint Statement on Strengthening Nuclear Security Implementation, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States, together with a number of corporations and foundations, joined together to establish the WINS Academy, the world’s first structured professional development and certification program for nuclear security managers. The first training module of the WINS Academy was launched at the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit.

Since its launch at the 2014 Summit, and with support from Nuclear Security Summit participating States, corporations and foundations, the WINS Academy has developed a robust international nuclear security certification program.  The training program is designed to develop a network of certified professionals who are implementing meaningful and sustainable changes to security culture and best practices worldwide. To date, 560 participants from 75 countries have registered in the WINS Academy certification program.   

Next Steps

In support of the commitments in INFCIRC/869, and acknowledging the international recognition of the need for nuclear security training, education, certification and/or qualification activities, this gift basket records the intent of Canada, Finland, Hungary, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States to undertake to further support the WINS Academy in its efforts to expand its international certification program, including through the provision of advocacy, peer review support, contributions, or by other means as necessary.  

The States listed above also recognize and undertake to promote cooperative efforts between the WINS Academy and the IAEA, including: WINS cooperation with the IAEA Nuclear Security Support Centre (NSSC) Working Group on Best Practices, whose 2014-2015 Action Plan includes the development of a program to collect lessons learned case studies from NSSC members; and WINS Academy cooperation with the IAEA’s International Nuclear Security Education Network (INSEN), which has helped academics connect and collaborate with WINS to help develop blended courses leading to joint certification.

We welcome other States, supported by industry and civil society, to provide a tangible commitment in support of the WINS Academy and certified professional development for nuclear security. Together we can help to ensure that nuclear and other radioactive materials remain secure under the management of demonstrably competent professionals.