In June 1989, considerable work remained before CargoScan would be operational. Soviet officials had to approve the system's technical documents, Soviet engineers had to complete construction of the Cargo-Scan buildings at the site, the United States had to transport the equipment to Votkinsk and conduct operational and safety testing, and, finally, Soviet officials had to approve the equipment and operating procedures before scanning operations could begin. These activities became the focus of the second treaty year.

In the first year, however, permanent residences and offices at the Votkinsk compound had been constructed, furnished, and occupied. The logistical system for getting people, materials, and supplies from the United States to the Soviet Union had proven to be effective and smoother than anticipated. Many of the difficulties inherent in crossing international borders, passing through customs inspections, and completing the transshipment of equipment and supplies had been overcome in the first year. The American site commanders and their Soviet counterparts had held frequent, regular discussions on portal issues.

During the first year at Votkinsk, issues and information about portal monitoring inspections went from the site to the respective governments and then to the Special Verification Commission in Geneva. A strong link had emerged between on-site experience at the portals and diplomatic negotiations in the commission. When the INF Treaty Memorandum of Agreement was signed in December 1989, it clarified, altered, and authorized the portal monitoring equipment and inspection procedures at both Magna and Votkinsk.


CargoScan was the the United States' radiographic imaging system for the continuous portal monitoring inspections at Votkinsk. Soviet missile cars would pass through the linatron X-ray and American inspectors monitoring the system would ascertain whether the missile in the rail car was, in fact, a banned missile or not.

 

 

The American celebration on June 10, 1989, at Votkinsk was an open house. At two o'clock the doors of every building were opened and the American inspectors showed their Soviet guests their new residence and office complex. More than 200 people attended. Colonel Englund, in his welcoming remarks, said, "When I first arrived in Votkinsk in May of last year, this place was an empty field. Today, when much has been done by both sides, we are opening the beautifully built living complex and inspection workplace. The labor put into this, as you can see, is of the highest quality and reflects the serious attention of both sides towards the fulfillment of the Treaty."31

Ambassador Matlock echoed some of the same themes in his remarks: "We are grateful to the Soviet builders for their good work. The opening of the village. . .shows everyone that a very serious treaty for the destruction of missiles is being carried out. Conscientious fulfillment of one treaty breeds trust, which aids in resolving many contentious questions in all areas."32 V. G. Tolmachev, director of the Votkinsk Machine Building Plant, responded by pointing out that at the portal of the factory "two governments [were] reconstructed here in miniature."33 Finally, General Major Medvedev, director of the Soviet Union's Nuclear Risk Reduction Center, thanked the INF inspectors for their American hospitality and cast the event into the context of recent history: "Two years ago, few people on earth would have suggested that in Votkinsk or in Magna, near the gates of missile factories, groups of specialists would observe the exit of products. . . . Nevertheless, today is a reality."34

  
At the Votkinsk ceremony opening the American compound, U.S. Ambassador Jack F. Matlock stood with V.G. Tolmachev, Plant Manager, General Medvedev, NRRC Director, and other Soviet officials.

 

    First Treaty Year at Magna

The Soviet housing complex at Magna was located at West Jordan, Utah, a small suburb located approximately eight miles southeast of the plant. The Soviet inspectors moved into these new apartments in April 1989.		   During the first treaty year at Magna, Soviet portal monitoring inspectors dealt with many of the same issues as the American inspectors at Votkinsk. Initially, the Soviet team concentrated on establishing inspection procedures for the continuous on-site monitoring of the Hercules Corporation's former INF missile plant site. Using the procedures detailed in the treaty, they observed the departing traffic, patrolled the perimeter fence, and inspected any vehicle transporting a missile stage or any cargo that had been declared to exceed the agreed-upon length (3.68 meters) and diameter (1.02 meters). U.S. escorts were always present on the site, observing the Soviet inspectors and confirming their measurements.

Throughout the first treaty year, the Soviet inspectors at Magna held extensive discussions with the U.S. detachment commander, Lt. Commander Szatkowski, and his staff. Initially, the topics concerned the on-site inspection procedures, coordination with the plant, and preparations for installation of the authorized Soviet portal monitoring equipment. Installation required site preparations--grading, foundation work, sewage, and electrical power. Commander Szatkowski and Robert Erickson met frequently with the Soviet team chief and went over plans and schedules for each stage of the site preparations. By the fall of 1988, construction was under way on most of the Magna portal projects. This work closely paralleled the work being done at Votkinsk on the American monitoring equipment. At Magna, the weekly meetings between U.S. and Soviet team chiefs helped resolve minor issues.35

 

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