ML071000059

171st ACNW Meeting Minutes - 06/06-7/2006

ML071000059
Person / Time
Issue date:	08/28/2006
From:	Kelton M NRC/ACNW
To:	NRC/ACNW
Kelton M, 415-6901
References
Download: ML071000059 (21)

Text

"lll.iti+ proposecl n.iinoI:r3s al'l the SI...rl:)ject rncsetin{;j Il"iai\\le been cti:rtifiedl as th(ii:!: official 1~~li:3~::1:.::11r1:11 ol' the pc'll::,c,eedings fair tllrat rneeitirn(;;;l Ai ta~chn-~er,~~t:

Cer'R~fied Minutes of the,1 '7'1"' Meeting June 6-';ii",,

2006

UNI'TED c'"r,AIrtii:?i:i NUCLEAR REGVLA&RY COMMISSION

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and to the besl: 0.1 rr..'~y krno\\,vl~ti:i!~::.i~:.jcii?

and belief, I V.~:iiive o~bservnxl no ~!il;ubs.tarlIhve cfirlrors err nr'r'lilsrs;ia:,ns in the record c::lf this I~::II~I:,~~E!I::~~I~I;;~

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('I I IWrnutes of tP11e "171'"' Meetir'rg ol the? /4l::N\\rr\\il I'lcld,June 6-'7, ;2006, dated k'iw!gk.li!!iiil: '14, :;1:1!1::.1(:l6.

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$i"l"A"HI'l$ii IWY..IC::I..EAlFll RE~GUL,ATOR'"w~C~IOMMISSION n%I::::I'luflS~l::1Fl"rf I:::::~3MMI'T"I'E E: (:IN I~,~~,JICIL..EAR WASTE

'hiYAliili I...{ I hICIITC)l'\\#,, 1::).il:::::. 21::)!5855.OOiD 1 E rlclused airre the pro ~::)o$i;ed rrlinlcr tea; (::,'ll:'.I.H.le,I '7 '11 !;I: a.'ns?ct.ll:ir..~g r:).W' the AC NW. This d raf il: !.; ~E!IIYI,!;::;~I

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ided to qlive 'you an oppor1:uriity tc:, rieview #:he relolard of tKiis meeting and pn~ovide c:i::)mrnt;+n.~~t!ii;i~.

four corr~merllts will be incorlr:rt:)raled into t,he f:iilrial certified scat o~f miriutes EIS appropriat"sl,. Ple;r~sciiil ~;::~r~l:::r~\\/icJe your cor'rec1:ions and (::ommerits to rrrn'e.

Please ruote that these ~..,riirnk,.jtes isre Y::,lt?~~n!j i:;suti?d En I:rniioi 1::)arts': (1) main body (lworkiri$;l c:~::~~li::,!~/

1iorr.n) and (2) appendices. 1-11~ie al::,peri~dices are beirrg s i e n l : n::rn~ly I:o those nnernblers who ha\\m req11..jested them.

/1, cr:jpy 1::::r.f [:he certified ~r"linul:es

\\iiwi8ttl ;;ipl:::reiriclices ~ln/n#I t;le fi',orwarded to eacII1 rn..len.nI::,~e:r

CONTENTS AVHC Spent G'\\li.ul~::lear F U ~ ~ I R~~~I'.II::Ic:~ss~I~cJ Reg~\\.,,rlation (Open) 3 0ve1~vie.w of thlii: Applicatiori cr,l PJRC Ftegulatioln:; to Spenl Nuclear Fuel I:(~PEUI....E:II.

5 Discussion cr'f 1:l11e Proposed Wli'hite Palper orr Spent Nuclear Fuel Reprai~::,essin~!;;j 11:11:311~:11e?n) 8 Discussion of IlAlatters Related to the COI-duct of ACNW Activities and :i,li;pecil'ic Il~aia../~es

"'F-hat Were Not, ~Cornpleted during P1re!vious Mettings (Open) 8 Election of ACrJW Ofl'icers l[(O~:ber'~)

8 F1~:cleral Regr'strsr Notice Meeting Agenda Meeting Attenciees Future Agenda I..kt of Documents Provided !.a1 the C;ornw~~itte~:

arrd Meeting Notebook C:::8~::~rrte~r~~.l.:i;,

CERTIFIED 811 6106 By MICHAEL T. RYAN1 CERTIFIED MINUTES OF: THE 1'71ST MEETING OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR WASTE J'UNE 6--7, 2006 The U :S. Nuclear Reg'~,~latcrlry C:::or~rni~ssionbs I[NH.C: or the staff) Advisory Cornn'~~~ttee I:::IA."II Plil~,..rcilear Waste IlACNW or the Il:::ommittee) kielcY its 1'71" meeting on,June 6-7, 2006, a.1:. One 'IJVIaite Flint North, 11555 Rockvill~!!

Pik.e, Rock.ville, Marylancl. "The ACNW published a notitx of' this meeting in the Fedora/ Register on May 25,, 20013 (71 FR 30202) (:see Appendi>c. A t(::~

.I:Ii~t'sltii!!

minutes). "'This meetirlg served as ;a fcrnrm for alteridees to tliscuss and take a1:)prol::uriate action on the items on the agenda {see Apperndix B to these minutes). The entire me~eting

\\IV~IS u:::Ill;:len to the ~:lt~blic.

A transtl:ript of selecteld parts crll" the rncii!eling is availablle in the IVRC Public:; Do~:::;:unie~r~~t FFoo~r'r at One White Flint North, Room 'I F'l9, 1,7555 R.ockviille Pi~ke, Rockville, M:~rylant:I, Copies tnlf lithe!

tra'nscript are available! for purchase from Neal R, Gross and Company, lric.,I

!Il23 R,ll'ic

:~tle liliiiland Avenue, IVW, Washing,tori,, D.C::. ZOQO(iii. Tra~iscripts rnay also be downlloaded ilrom, cur r'ev.i~~ewed on, the NRC Web site at t-kt@:

1. !ll~w~,,~fi,~~,~:~.

a ~ v l ~ r e ~ ~ l i n g, ~, ~ ~ n. ~ / d ~ ~ - ~ ~ l I e ~ t ions /acnwj;j;,~~,

at I'..IIC:I II::;,(::IO~

11 AC:NW Members, Dr. hlicPraeE "'r. Ryan (ACN'W C:h:airman), Dr. Allen G. Croff' I(J!~!ICNVI!~I(

'lldri~:(iiii!

Chairman), Mr. Williarrr J. I-linze, arid bls. Ruth Weirrer attended this meeting. Mr. J8;r3rnesi kil.

Clarke was not in attenldance. For a list of other atter~clees, see Appendix C to thesuiit rrri8rau..rll:es.

Dr. Ryan, ACNW Chairman, convenecli the meetin!;;] ;srlt 'I :00 p.m. oln June 6, 21:11:::)6, a~rrd il::~~rius'lllly reviewed the agenda. IHe noted that tlh~e meeting was I:,eing conducted in con.l:~:.:)rmar~(::::e!

rinril:Ik~ the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Dr. Ryan asked rrren~ibers of the public who 11,rvere :1reser'111 and wished to address the I2ornmittee t'o inr~form tlhe I14rSN111V staff so that timit could be alloicaled for them to speak.

I.

OVERVIEW O f COMMERCIAL SPENT WWC:LEAR FUEL REPROCESSING (OPEN)

Dr. Ryeun ir~troducec! D I ~.

Ray 'Wyrn~?r,

/!4C:NVV C:o~mrni,Ltee member emeritus an11::j spe:iiikti:r

~:~I::::III~ the firs1 session entitled, "lntrotluctlon to bfli~storilc~al CBl.S., Nuclear Fuel Recycle." Folllowin~~g the!

introductionl, the Chairrnan turned the meeting over tic1 'idice Chairrnan Allen Cr~~:::l~ff'.

Dr. Wynner described W:hreeiir benefits a'#: rel:~rr:)r:essing: ( I ) the capt~ure of'valuat:r~le rnall:erie~l~?i;

.I'ro~m spent r,iuclear fuel, (2) the reduct'ion of the volume of waste required to be stowd a!: "'lf~..~(::::c;j Mo~untein,,

and (:3) lhe rsdi,uctiorn of sorrre of the heat.qproducing elements that ewe spac;:e! Iir'rhiters in 'fucca Mountain. Hni? described the varliou:~ types (sf reactor fuels and reproc;1lsssirr~!3 e~:<l;::re!ri-ences in) the United Slates and noted tbrat it has beer) nearly 30 years since t h l ~

NRC::: ic:::ons~id.-

ered licensing a new reprocessing fac.i~lity, MI.JC~

of: I:lhe agency's new Mort will1 star.[: f'r1on.11

scratct,

MINU'I'ES 171ST ACNW MEETING JUNE 6-7, 2006 The briefing addresseci tht: balsic eWe!rr..uerits,, incll~rjiri$j c:.hemical separalior~ processe!ii,, ~,,~;.i~~ricr~.~s waste streams, transportation, and storage of s'pent fuel. He noted that currer~~tiy mu::)s,i sy:~tii:nt fuel is stored on site and in pools a~nd rnost has beer1 stored for longer,than 5 years,.

Dr. Wlrxner addressed lexperier~ce in c;hopping ancl r:jec:ladding fuel elements, ~:I:I~~~~III.J~;::I(JZ,

ilil,~rld batch dissolvers, solvent e.xtraction, t"rl

:)t cells;, glo've? bolxes, and canyons. He clIescribi~i!d tbilliiii:

dissolution of spent fuel, noting that k.rypton (being a noble gas) and carbon-lrH presenter::!

challenging waste streams'. He described plutonii,nrn as having three valence :ai,tates r'equii~r~~r~g valence adjustment arid noted that only plutoni1~m~4 extracted well. Dr. Wymelr prese~nl:c?d ii3 graph that depicted the decay of high,m,level waste from reprocessing one tonnfs? of sf::~ern~l pressurized-water reactor fuel. He identified the cross'over point (i.e., when the:! levtii~ll c::)'f' radioactivity would be reduced to [:he s::rriginal ore?:) al: ahout 10,000 year:;.

Dr. Ryan asked about lnot:rile risk ancl Dr. VVyrn~tr ir~ciicated [:hat the actinides, n,reptii~rii~~urn.r

.ar"idI technetium, and to a lesser extent iodirlre-,1;!!3, were controlling in the long term whc!rera~;

cesium and strontiulri yverts drivers in Ithe short 'temm. Dr. Wymer agreed with I:I)r. Rya~n 8:I-aal: it is a z:.ero sum game; i r ~

!Ire end, the risk profile w o ~ ~ l d change as a result of repro~cessir'rg ::ar\\cl a total systems approac:li~ wot.~ld be needed to understand the differences amon(;l procresscts, Ur Wymner described ttie FUREX process and the waste streams'. With resp~:l~::;t to I'..II~{;;J#..II,,.

tempelrat~~re gas-cooled reactor fl.~el, Ithe app~roach wol,,~ld be to remove as mulch car.#:lo~r,~

is, pomssible, grind up the lliberated sblic

on carbide coating, and then dissolve the rr~nxtur~ei!!

in r1~11:1r.ic ac~d. tie noted that the! organic: aci~ds that ecfolvra as a result of the graphite wc~~iuld be challleng-ing to work with because they 'form complex agents, t : ~ ~. l t that it could be made ll:o wcrrlc. Dr.

Wymer described the basic: PURE.)( process, solvent extraction contact betweiei!rri ph:i3s8esi, t!kie distribution coefficient:;r, p ~ ~ l s e

~solumn,,

centri.fugaI contactor,, and the nature of repr~c;~essinl!g facilities, including hot cells, glt:)ve I:~oxes, canyons, anc! British Nuclear Fuel, l...i~~~~ite~::ll (5PJR:Il...,)

plant operating area. I:.)r. Wymer concluded his presentation with a video of h i ~ o intc~rna~tilt::,rraI reprooessing plants (Smellafield wn the I,...

,Ynited Iqingdorn and La Hague in France) and liiii~riaa,~~liij, operatic~ns.

The Comnnittee disc;ussior~s that f'c)llo\\nIrle~d foc;use!d on tlie need to have ia systerns ol:::~~tln'ii:;i::;~ll:ron approach to the entire fuel cycle, tak.ing into tacc~~unt ilrnportant aspectsl, including w;sstcs strearms arid waste minimization, dloser to workers, dec~ommissioning cu8'sts, diffilculty In tharnr;nlling materiels, and waiting time before regrr~ocessing,, [Imr,. Ryan also expressed the: possi~biillit,y of: a waste component with a little bit of everything that col~lld suggest a new category thai may not be ecorronical to recolver. In cllosirig, the Committee! agreed that total s'ystem optirri;r;;i~tion was the way to proceed Additicr~al questions a~ri~d cor~irn.ier~tri-,

ir~~~atlcr during the closing discussior'l iricluc181i:ird th'riiir.f~o~ill~o~w,rir~g:

Dr. Ryan noted that the Eh..lircnpeans have aai imitt?rnmediate level of waste and !!ii;~..~~(jl;~ciitzii;l:ed

.that the United States may hiave to think about a similar (new) waste caltegon.;yl tltaat ~c:oil~ld

MINUTES 171ST ACNW MEETING JUNE 6-7, 2006 result from repr~ocesslr~~j.

h41r. [::;roff follouved bly observing that reprocessing ~::::or..~ll~l::Il rri.:sult in greater than Ciass C. waste becorning a major waste stream.

[:In..

. Ryan notecl that: sou.~rce~,~t:~elsed definitions; or health-based definitiorrri~; do I~II:::,~~

I..~;iiii~~~~~~l~c:i; anything to c!o vvith risk in ti3 rlisi'posal settirr!;;j,.

Dr. Weiner que!stioried wtletk~e+r reprocessiri~g would actually reduce w,z~~lii;te

~ E : : : I I ~ I

,., in...n~i!.

Mr. Croff commented that rece~rkt French expcsrience indicated that the I:otat ~,iloRcr~rr~~fiii!

~:)f waste from reprocessing is srnalli'er than the \\volume of the original spernt fuel. Dr, Wymer stated Itthat it will reclucira the footpririt is1 Yucca Mountain.

8::In.. Weiner asE;.ed E:::Fr. VVyrler ~i~vhat process Filer \\ ~ o u l d choose, and he r,ciiil!spor,i~l::jlii!d I:I'~;i"it, over the next ;?(I to 30 years, F2I'1JREX would likely be the process of choice priirn;iwiI';y because of the ~econorrdic;~, houl~ever, the pyroplrocess does have some advarita~gersi,,

al'i:hough it is f~.~rther dowri the line.

Dr. Ryan cormrrrented that o~ptirnizing the total systerri and not ju'st relyinig on t t ~ :

economics is the best approacrh tc) determining where to go. Mr. Croff 'll'ollowertl I:::~?,il' requesting that the Departrnerlit of Energy (DOEIE) discuss the system a,~:ilproact-~

wkra!n it briefs Ihe Com~itiittee in JuR)?.

Dr. Hinze asken::l why we sWilou#c:jl reprc~cesis~,

and Dr. Wymer said that tht:! c3nYy8 ~~~?~IS~,CPII...I for dcjing so is to c;,onsE?rve reso8urc;es,.

Dr. Hinze aske!r::l where he ctc~lci~lcl Find the ml~!i;L cc~mplete information or.1 I:he ~,li;s~!ii;ll:~i! I'norru reprocess in!;^, irrnd Klr. Wyn~er irrclicated that it m,o~~ld be Justin L.ong's t:roc)k.

Dr. Ryswl cornririented and Dr. \\,M'!yrmer agreed,li.f.~~at the French are the vlI/r::,rld Ic!a~dlc3rai or11 reprocess in(;;^.

II.

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION% SPENT NUCLEAR #FmUEt REPRO-CESSING REGULATION (OPEN)

Mr. Cr~::,ff ir~troduced Stewart Magrcrderr arid Jlose!~uti Giitter, Chief of the Special Projei!ctri; Elranch within ithe Office of Nuclear Iblaterial Safety and Safeguards (NMSS) an~d asked them 'ta leirid t h ~ :

discussion on the implih;ations of a DOE global niuclear energy partr~ership I:GNE.;.P) I:WI NRC programs. Mr. Magruder stated that the purpose of the? meeting was to bring I:lre Cc~rr~~rni,l:tniii!e up to date! or1 NRC activities related to GNEP and lo'n the agency's role in the pror::iess a's il: nl'oves forward. Mr. Giitter intlicated that rriernbers of' his branch had just met \\ ~ i t h D(1::lE. thckt nnc:,r~rr~ing and that GNEP was still at a very high level and fairly c:;onceptual.

MINUTES 171ST ACNW MEETING JUNE 6-7, 2006 Mr Magruder providetnl a brief surnlrx~snvy cuF the DOE. GNEP program and its goiial 1.0 rltxi~,.,lr;e! I:he number cuf required goologic repositories in the llnited States to one for the rel~~~ainder

~ l f I : ~ I I ~

centur!/. He addressed the fiscal year (Fry) 2;OQfi Plpprc:)priations Act that directci2d DC1::)E.E I:I:::I develop a Spent Fuel F7tecycling Plan. DOE providecli GrJMSS staff with a predecisioniiitl tlr;rf"l: of the plan in March 2CEOEii, but the! official plan had lust heen released on May 31, 2OO(i!. Dr. H:::%:yan requested a copy.

Mr. Magr~rder described the key parts crf the DOE pr'ograni, which include the :jiepar8;iiilII:r::)r..

tc::~

remove unspent fuel, #:he advarrcedl fuwsl cycle,facility to separate out transuranlii~cs (T'I::~U:II, and the advanced burner reactor (ABR)i 1.0 eliminate 'TFI'U. He stated that DOE: will1 ~ i o t

\\,1:;;1e:

the PUREX, process, bcrt plans to crse a process (not fully determined) to separate ll:he sPl~c:~rt-li\\ii~l~d fission products (strontium and cesiurrl), urarii~~rri,,

arrd the transuranic elemenil:$ii; into se~:lariiiite waste streams. Only the longer lif'~!tilru.ne fission products wotlld enter the high-Hciii:vel w;~Is;I.EI!

repository.

He stated that the DC)II..I engineer in!^ scale demonstration facilities, whiclh will cill::irrnornst~;11:t:::!

aq1,Jeous reprocessing teckirioloyy,, will begin cupetratiori at the 10 to low '100 torrs per yeair lcii!vetl by 2015 The next facility would be! [:he ABR at arourid several hundred megawatts W:o t:~t?gb~n construction in the 20'16-2020 timeframe, with the goal of being operati~onal by 202:iil. l:~llC::hE!

published an advance riotice of rnterit that generated 3lD expressions of intere!;'!.. Mr. Magrl,,~der stated that the Commirijsion would like NRC to lic;er~se the facilities as if they weiiire f~dl su:::i3Wleii!,,

even if they were on DIOE sites or were! O W ~ I E ? ~

by DCIEI. The Commissiorr dire!c;::nted ii:#ie NR.C to work w~th DOE to carme up with a cost8-reirnb8ursable agreement to fund NRC's; work. IC)!JI~!~I~

the next several years, t:)ul: the Comrnissiolri did r~ot tiivanl: 1.0 commit significant NRC::: rest:,urtari:nii;,I:o the prc~ject at this tirne. In short, thie C1:ornmission did not want the staff to get out at"re?acll C : P ~

DOE.

It was [rioted that in a sitaff' reqcr~irernerrls srienio, dat'e~d lVllay 16, 2006, th'e C:~om~wiissi(:::~r.~~

cfli~~eil::::Ie~:j the staff to ( I ) develop a ccrnceptual I~c;ensing process for GNEP facilitie:~, and 1(2:) prepare clraft legislation that would alive NRC: licer~si~rry autlhority over demonstration fiacilities Mr FMagr~,.,rder stated tha,t the Energy Reorganizatioru,Act of 1974 dicl not subject the DOE pla~wined rieprcrcess-ing facilities and TRU fuel fabrication k;~c:ilities to NRC regulation, but that the staff wais tjr#a$fting legislat:ion to clarify NF~IC'S role and its ia~.~th~l'ifr over DOE facilities. He explaiuied tr'ialt the? !staff has licensing authority for reac'ltors t h t are operated far the purposes of demor1stral:iingl cornrnercial operation, but not for rci?prc:,cessi~ig facilities or TRU fuel fabricatior'~ facilitirii!:;.

ble stated that the NRC Office of C;eneral Counsel is working to clarify the agency"~:; resl:,ori~sitriilities in Ihis.area and expects to have driaf l~egislal.ion by line fall 2006 for Cor~gress 013 coni~siclarn next year. The meeting thelri movett to a disc;us.r;ion of'.the application of NRC reguliii~tion:ai to :;~:~'cirrnt nuclear fuel reprocessing.

MINUTES 17,1ST ACNW MEETING JUNE 6-7, 2006 Ill.

OVERVIEW OF THE APPLICA'TION OF NRC REGULATIONS 'TO SPKNT NIUIYJICLEAR FUEL REPROCESSING (OPEN)

Nh'ISS staff Joseph Giii:ter and Ste\\~aril: Magruder addressed the existing NRC: ~eg~ll,iiiixI:o~),r prchcess and regulatior~:~

that would be used for reproc:essiny. Discussion foc~.~l!ii;ed CI~Y~I tl'.l(?

diff'erences betweeri 'T'i~tle

'1 0, Par! 50, of the! CocIo of' Federal Regulations, "D~olrnestic: l-ic~i?r~sirig of Prodl~ction and Utilization Facilities,'" 11 0 C:FR Pad 510),

10 CFR Part 52, "E;a~rly Si~l:ci?

12srr"mits; Standard Design Certifications; and C:r:lnibined L.ic,ar~se!s for Nuclear Power Pl;~~nts,";;kri~d 10 CFf? Part 70, "Domestic. Licensing crf Special Nucleiar Material," and what ni80del ~l:::loulrA Y::re used for kcensing a new reprocessing iiacility. Mr. Magruder noted that under "I0 CFR lF%~urll 70, the! NRIC would issue 31 possessiori ancl (use licerise rather than an operating lic8ense. as 111: 11,would under 10 CFR Part 50. The key tcr 10 CFR Part 70 is that it is risk inforltned ar11~1:J is a ~:::,rit:.,step licensing process. tie noted 'that licensing produci:ia17/cltilization hcilitie!; under 10 C::F"RI Pa~rf 50 is a two-step process, while licensing [:hem under 'I0 CFR Part 52 is a crne-slier) prot:ne:;8s8. "'llmhe hIRC licenses special materials under 'I0 ClFR P8ar't 70; 10 CFR Part 30, "Rules of Grii?~r'~~erzil:

Applicability to Domesl:ic Licensing of Byprodluct Mater~~al,"

and 10 CFR Part 72, "Lictitr~sing Requirements for the Independen! Storage of Spent N~uclear Fuel, High-Level 'Il?adica;i~cli~~~~!,!~

Waste, and Reactor-Related Greater "'T'han C:lass C:

'Waste,'apply to byproduc:t materi,al ;ii~rld high-level waste. In all, NRC could regulate! up to five different types of facilitims: ( 7 ) sepalra-tioris reprocessing facility ('10 C:;FR Part 50), 1(2) fuel f'at:rication facility ('I0 CFFZ Parl. 'i'O:), 1:::::3~:) fast flux facility (1 0 CFR Psitrt 50 and '10 CFR Part 52), (4,) interim storage facility ('I 1I:::I CFR P';iarW:,721, and (5 1 vitrification facility I;: I Q CFR P~rrl:

30).

The fayst reactor facility would I~kkely btiiil licfitns8erj under "10 CFR Part 50 t:11ut wo~,~lIld inc:~:::)rpar.iill~!

features from 10 CFR Part. 52, althr~ugli, it rnay evsntu~ally be licensed i~lnder a new ~lie?r::kinc~lhuyy-ne~,~tral framework that is now under development. hdr. Giitter stalked that 10 C:FR Par!: 50 \\JYOIJI~

not be the best option,t80 license a reprocessing facility and would likely be the 'path n::d $jrci!al:est resistance. He noted [:hat the C:omrnistsion cloulcl astabdish a licensing framewt::~~rk by identilying specific parts of the regulations that wr:,uld apply and any new requirements thzii~t wou.,ilcl n.i~cii?c;!d I:o be added. He observcrd that 10 CFR Part 70 provides a good framework becaj~~.lse it ha~s certain degree of flexit:,ility.

In response to Dr. R.yar'~'s cluestiorr ~ r h framel~ork, Mr., IWlagri~der clescrit:)ed the staff'8rii ui:#:if'08nll,!a1 generate a technology-neutral if'ramlework for licensling advanced reactchr desisjr'ls. kle: ru~c~i:cii~l~:l that it would likely become a new rt9gt.ll8ation imtl the staff would try to apply it?;; print:::ipIes l.o~

licensing a sodium-coolled reactor. M'r'. Giitter indica1:ecl that the sitaff willl resporid to,th~ti:

Commission on a cor~a:;cspti~al licensing process f'or the demonstration facilities H:,y tht~r ctirrtl E:II'/'

2007. lie also stated that changes werac pos8sible to 1C:l CFR Part 73, 10 CFR Part 74, "Fv'laterial Control arid Accountin!g of Special Nut;lear Nlaterial," 110 CFR Part 75, 'Safeguaiii~rds t:rr I\\lt~..xt::llear Material-,-Implementation of UStIAEA Agreemen1,"band 10 C:FR Part 51, 'Environmeii:r~t;a#

Proteclion Regulatiorrs; for Don'restic l....icensir~g and Related Regulatory Functi(::,~ns," Y:cl atld,rct!ss the impact of spent fueel transportatiori to the facilities.. Potential radiological, er~riv~rorlrr~c?r~I:i:j~/l~

and waste issues were! identified, inc;l~,..r~ding the need 1.0 recycle spent fuel withir,t 5 ytiiirars tl~:::~

avoid a ~~ignificant buildup of' am~!riciz..rrn-~~2!~1.1

.from plwtorriurn-:241 as it decays.

MINUTES 171ST ACNW MEETING JUNE 6-'7. 2006 Mr. Giitter noted that interriational ac:cc:!ptance was needed to move the prograwr forwlancll. I,nndia agreed to sign on and Russia appeared to be eager to join, but other countries are rnors!

skeptical. Mr. Giitter stated thal the staff plans tal develop a task force that includes reprct:srii!~nta-tives from NMSS and t,he Offices of Nuclear Reactor Hcagulation, Nuclear Reguilator.y Research, International Programs,, and General C::ouns8el to work closely with DOE over 18 monl:hs, I~C::I bc prepared should Congress decide that the NRC should regulate the demoristrcrlion facililifirrii,.

Additioraal cornwlents and qr.resi.ions d~,lrirrg and following the presentation iinclu~cled

~tkrsiii follow in^;;^:

I:::)r. Ryan corrlrnented the't highly radiioactive material does not necessarily have! to l:::lciiiil 1:::tlaced in a high-level waste repository. One has to be ca~~tious aboui rnt using c)ri!:;;jin-.

I::~ased or health,,"physics,-based definitions. The staff agreed.

IWr. Magruder nlt:)ted that the United States dues not have an intern'rediatle waste

~::::ai:egory, and the staff will be alsking the Commiittee for help in addressi~!ig thi:s isslue e

Il:lr. Ryan asked whether the fa'cility is expected to generate a new catei!;~~ory o8Il w;~'sll:tiiil (i.e!., one that has not been generated betore). Mr. Giitter stated thal he could no,l isnswer the question because he coultl not predict what the wasi:e strearris will inc:,lt.rde.

Dr. Ryan cornrrrented that, in addition to licen'siin~g issues, the staff shocrllllnl foc,l..~s crn1 #:he 1~:nd products beca~rse that is where the t'rouble starts.

V li::lr., Ryan con~nlented that the 1:Jrocess of'choc~siny the tirntia to begin relproce!;sir~cji involves interesting tradeoffs be3tween do'!ses lo workers in the facility velrses Ih~et:r~retic;;al 11:loses down the line,. The st:a,fl had discu!ssed the issue earlier with DOE and agre!md it:

was a concern.

UDr. Ryan asked whether anyorle raised the question of mixed waste. I\\I~I~,,~'.

Giitter ~si.e~~l:etj that it was an important question, houreve!r, thct :staff had not gotten into that level of detail but would be looking intc::~

it.

Dr. Hinze askecl whether the staff had thought about the criteria needed to dci?vel~uc~~l::~

~'.IE:w regulations and a timeframe for the decision. IIVRr. Giitter slated that the :staff [~~l,ar"ls

'Illr::~~

design a conceptual licensing process by the erld of FY 2007, which will draw upor'~,I:h~a NRC's licensing experience with the nnixed oxide facility, gas centrisfuge, and 1C3 I:3F'R Part 52 to develop these cril:eri;s,.

8:Ir. Ryar? observed that the stall' trialy miss c~ul C ~ I an opportunity if NRC::I dous noll:

regulate the dennonstratiori facilities and asked whether the NRC could be in,volv'ed in the DOE, process if t.he facilities were self' regulated. Mr. Giitter stated 'that he be!ilie,'\\red t.hat less uncertainty would exirj't in going to corrlmercial scale if NRC regulateid the facilities, but that DOE did not want the MRC to license the facilities. HIc:.rweve?r, DOE..:

does believe that it sho~.ald work very ~:losely with the NRC;.

MINUTES 171ST ACNW MEETING JUNE 6-7, 2006 I::lr.. Ryan commented that 1:he staff should think about Agreement Sitate! !rr~ol~~,rfi:n'~~r~rI:,

since their radiological health departments are ir~volved with DOE facilitir:~,.

I:::lr. Weiner commented that, with regard to norrproliferation, the genie E!s alreacly r::~r,..ull, of I:ilie bottle and questioned why !,!he United States should be concerned at::,out F1'LJFI:E,:x:

and plutonium production. Mr. Magruder answered that the United Statle!!s wants to retake the lead in nuclear techr~ology and adopting the PWREX process is nolh~n<g KIE!~.

.,,. I he agency wants lo move to the next ge!neratic~r~

of reprocessing, UREI.:::I(,, wfrile reducing the threat of proliferatilort.

I\\Ar Croff conlmented that wha'll. will become ifnpsortant to licensing the f;r8r,ilities i,ht I:il.nlriiil waste stream--the waste that comes lout:, the waste that goes up the sta~ck, and the waste that goes out into the craek. A release of' iodine, krypton, carborr14, anci tri~iti~,..im c::ould result in large collective doses (i.e,,, small doses to a large number of peopl'e). He

~:::luestioned whether the reycwlations reflected these consideratioris ;and virhether FSR(C::;'

reconsidered the Environmental Protection Agency's standard in 10 CF:Fi Part 191::1, "Environmental Protection Standards for lduclear Power Operations." fb~lli-. Giitter sta.ted ithat he could not a,nswer these questions and th~at much work needed l!oi be clotlie!.

Mr. Craff commented that DOE ~ r ~ u s t be at some stage of conceptt.~al design iii3t U:il...~i!iiii l:roint,. Mr. Giitter indicated lhai, DOE is looking at existing facilities as a lirtarting poir"111:

tc:,

save time, rather than s sing a (;ireen site. Both Mr. Croff and Dr. R.yan r::'lluestione!d that ii~pproach, which would seem trc~ be more difficult than building somethir'r!:;~

new Mr. Crof' comn~~entetj that reprocessing c;owld result irr a cc~nsiderable 1111c::reas~e ir~

greater than Class f::

waste a,ritl asked whether NRC had discussed thiir.;; sub'jec;lt rniiiiil.~

DOE. Mr. Giitter indicated thal: this ims a rn~ajor priority with the DOE Sec~retary and iiyllany r:,f the offices w~thin DOE ares working togethe~r ckn this ~SSCI~?.,

C::lr,. Larkins asked whether CIQE" was compiling information on area~s where the: NRC: and I:IOE had worked well in the past and areias where the twc) agencies have ha0 pr'olbllems.

Mr. Giitter stated that he did not k:now if that was being done at DOE or,Illhe NR'C:, li:~l..rt that it was a knowledge management issue and any help would he appr1eciat~:c:i.

[::It-. Ryan asked where the peial:~le! were going ta come froni to st.~pport il:k.ne pragran.1.

Pvlr,, Giitter responded that the IVRC has s'trategies that inc.lude letting universities know

.Ihe type of w'ork;. the agerrc'y is doing,. The NRC is also directing researc'h and sencling nianagers to universities to hialltl spec~ial rlec'ruitrnent sessions.

MINUTES 17'IST ACNW MEETING JUNE 13-7, 2006 IV.

DISCUSSION OF THE PROPOSED WHII'TE PAPER ON SPENT NUCLEAR FUEll REPROCESSING (OPEN)

DOE has been studying advanced r'it~clea,r fuel cycles f~or several years arrld rri';i~y emI~::~lc~y el 'Il~~el cycle substantially different to recover and recycle va,rlous constituents of powar reat::tor fuels.,

Dr. Ray Wymer outlined a White Papelr that uvill rtxamin~e reproces'sing technologies. 'The paper will support ACNW efforts to becorrre familiar with the fuel cycles c~f the advanc::~ed reiactor.

systemls that DOE is developing. Duriliig this session^, the Committee discussec:! and plar~nnti?d the sco1:)e and content of the White Paper,.

V.

DISCUSSION OF MATTERS RELATED TO THE CONDUCT OF ACNW ACTlVlTlES AND SPECIFIC ISSUES THAT WERE NOT COMPLETED DURING PREVIOUS MEETINGS (OPEN)

[Michat!/ Snodderly wars the Designated Federal Officiial for this part of the nielti~ll:ing':I~

The Cclwnrnittee discussed possible agenda itenrls for the next 12 months. The! Cornrr,itt~![ti! ;idso discus:;csd steps for nrrr:,re effective and efficient letter writing.

VI.

ELECTION OF ACNW OFFICERS (OPEN)

[Michalii:l Snodderly was; the! Designated Federa,[ Clfficial for this part of the nielti$ting.:l~

The Committee reelected Michael I", iFt4yan and Pillen (I;.

Croff to $.he positic~ns (;:,li: Cha~rrrr~wr

and Vice Chairman, respectively, of the ACNW fc~r a I-year term endi~rrg June

30, :.1!1::)07,.

The mctteting adjourned at 5:00 p,.lm,, oln \\Mednesday, June 7, 2006