[[CENTER]COLOR=Blue]Treaty Between the USA and USSR on Underground Nuclear Explosions for
Peaceful Purposes
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15 ILM 891
entered into force December 11, 1990
Signed at Washington and Moscow May 28, 1976
The United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, hereinafter
referred to as the Parties,
Proceeding from a desire to implement Article III of the Treaty between the United
States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Limitation of
Underground Nuclear Weapon Tests, which calls for the earliest possible conclusion
of an agreement on underground nuclear explosions for peaceful purposes,
Reaffirming their adherence to the objectives and principles of the Treaty Banning
Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water, the
Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and the Treaty on the Limitation of
Underground Nuclear Weapon Tests, and their determination to observe strictly the
provisions of these international agreements,
Desiring to assure that underground nuclear explosions for peaceful purposes shall
not be used for purposes related to nuclear weapons,
Desiring that utilization of nuclear energy be directed only toward peaceful purposes,
Desiring to develop appropriately cooperation in the field of underground nuclear
explosions for peaceful purposes,
Have agreed as follows:
Article I
1 . The Parties enter into this Treaty to satisfy the obligations in Article III of the
Treaty on the Limitation of Underground Nuclear Weapon Tests, and assume
additional obligations in accordance with the provisions of this Treaty.
2. This Treaty shall govern all underground nuclear explosions for peaceful purposes
conducted by the Parties after March 31, 1976.
Article II
1. For the purposes of this Treaty:
(a) "explosion" means any individual or group underground nuclear explosion for
peaceful purposes;
(b) "explosive" means any device, mechanism or system for producing an individual
explosion;
© "group explosion" means two or more individual explosions for which the time
interval between successive individual explosions does not exceed five seconds and
for which the emplacement points of all explosives can be interconnected by straight
line segments, each of which joins two emplacement points and each of which does
not exceed 40 kilometers.
Article III
1. Each Party, subject to the obligations assumed under this Treaty and other
international agreements, reserves the right to:
(a) carry out explosions at any place under its jurisdiction or control outside the
geographical boundaries of test sites specified under the provisions of the Treaty on
the Limitation of Underground Nuclear Weapon Tests; and
(b) carry out, participate or assist in carrying out explosions in the territory of another
State at the request of such other State.
2. Each Party undertakes to prohibit, to prevent and not to carry out at any place under
its jurisdiction or control, and further undertakes not to carry out, participate or assist
in carrying out anywhere:
(a) any individual explosion having a yield exceeding 150 kilotons;
(b) any group explosion:
(1) having an aggregate yield exceeding 150 kilotons except in ways that will permit
identification of each individual explosion and determination of the yield of each
individual explosion in the group in accordance with the provisions of Article IV of
and the Protocol to this Treaty;
(2) having an aggregate yield exceeding one and one-half megatons;
© any explosion which does not carry out a peaceful application;
(d) any explosion except in compliance with the provisions of the Treaty Banning
Nuclear Weapon Tests in the Atmosphere, in Outer Space and Under Water, the
Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and other international
agreements entered into by that Party.
3. The question of carrying out any individual explosion having a yield exceeding the
yield specified in paragraph 2(a) of this article will be considered by the Parties at an
appropriate time to be agreed.
Article IV
1. For the purpose of providing assurance of compliance with the provisions of this
Treaty, each Party shall:
(a) use national technical means of verification at its disposal in a manner consistent
with generally recognized principles of international law; and
(b) provide to the other Party information and access to sites of explosions and furnish
assistance in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Protocol to this Treaty.
2. Each Party undertakes not to interfere with the national technical means of
verification of the other Party operating in accordance with paragraph 1(a) of this
article, or with the implementation of the provisions of paragraph 1(b) of this article.
Article V
1. To promote the objectives and implementation of the provisions of this Treaty, the
Parties shall establish promptly a Joint Consultative Commission within the
framework of which they will:
(a) consult with each other, make inquiries and furnish information in response to
such inquiries, to assure confidence in compliance with the obligations assumed;
(b) consider questions concerning compliance with the obligations assumed and
related situations which may be considered ambiguous;
© consider questions involving unintended interference with the means for assuring
compliance with the provisions of this Treaty;
(d) consider changes in technology or other new circumstances which have a bearing
on the provisions of this Treaty; and
(e) consider possible amendments to provisions governing underground nuclear
explosions for peaceful purposes.
2. The Parties through consultation shall establish, and may amend as appropriate,
Regulations for the Joint Consultative Commission governing procedures,
composition and other relevant matters.
Article VI
1. The Parties will develop cooperation on the basis of mutual benefit, equality, and
reciprocity in various areas related to carrying out underground nuclear explosions for
peaceful purposes.
2. The Joint Consultative Commission will facilitate this cooperation by considering
specific areas and forms of cooperation which shall be determined by agreement
between the Parties in accordance with their constitutional procedures.
3. The Parties will appropriately inform the International Atomic Energy Agency of
results of their cooperation in the field of underground nuclear explosions for peaceful
purposes.
Article VII
1. Each Party shall continue to promote the development of the international
agreement or agreements and procedures provided for in Article V of the Treaty on
the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and shall provide appropriate assistance to
the International Atomic Energy Agency in this regard.
2. Each Party undertakes not to carry out, participate or assist in the carrying out of
any explosion in the territory of another State unless that State agrees to the
implementation in its territory of the implementation observation and procedures
contemplated by Article V of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
and the provisions of Article IV of the Protocol to this Treaty, including the provision
by that State of the assistance necessary for such implementation and of the privileges
and immunities specified in the Protocol.
Article VIII
1. This Treaty shall remain in force for a period of five years, and it shall be extended
for successive five-year periods unless either Party notifies the other of its termination
no later than six months prior to its expiration. Before the expiration of this period the
Parties may, as necessary, hold consultations to consider the situation relevant to the
substance of this Treaty. However, under no circumstances shall either Party be
entitled to terminate this Treaty while the Treaty on the Limitation of Underground
Nuclear Weapon Tests remains in force.
2. Termination of the Treaty on the Limitation of Underground Nuclear Weapon Tests
shall entitle either Party to withdraw from this Treaty at any time.
3. Each Party may propose amendments to this Treaty. Amendments shall enter into
force on the day of the exchange of instruments of ratification of such amendments.
Article IX
1. This Treaty including the Protocol which forms an integral part hereof, shall be
subject to ratification in accordance with the constitutional procedures of each Party.
This Treaty shall enter into force on the day of the exchange of instruments of
ratification which exchange shall take place simultaneously with the exchange of
instruments of ratification of the Treaty on the Limitation of Underground Nuclear
Weapon Tests.
2. This Treaty shall be registered pursuant to Article 102 of the Charter of the United
Nations.
DONE at Washington and Moscow, on May 28,1976, in duplicate, in the English and
Russian languages, both texts being equally authentic.
For the United States of America: GERALD R. FORD, The President of the United
States of America
For the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics: L.BREZHNEV, General Secretary of the
Central Committee of the CPSU
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