ML12251A731
| ML12251A731 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 12/27/1989 |
| From: | Taylor J NRC/SECY |
| To: | Carr K, Curtiss J, Remick F, Roberts T, Rogers K, Zech L NRC/OCM |
| References | |
| SECY-89-382 | |
| Download: ML12251A731 (2) | |
Text
December 27, 1989 (I nformatisn)
For: -
The Commissioners From: -
James M. Taylor Executive Girector f o r Operations
Subject:
INTERIt,i PROGRESS REPORT Oi.! THE ACCIOEliT STUDY FOR PLUTONIM! [SIR-TRAl!'PClP,T PACKAGES Purlose:
To respond t o the Coinmission's request t o provide periodic program reports follow in^ the May 15, 1969 s t a f f briefing on e f f o r t s t o implement Section 5662, Public Law 100-203
(~urkows k1 Avendment)
The Murkcwski Amendn:ent requires testing of ccntainers used t o tr6i1spor.l. plutonium by a i r c r a f t i r o n a foreign nition t o another, through U.S. airspace, and NRC certification t o Congress t h a t the ccr:tainers are safe.
Four previous Cor;rrissio~ Papers have addressed: the amendinet~t's require-netits (SECY-88-302) ; the Agreemerat with the Power Reactor 2nd Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation of Japan (PNC) on t.he testing art6 administrative program f o r certifying pack-ages (SECY-86-329j; the selection of a worst-case a i r c r a f t crash foi-t e s t c r i t e r i a develcpuielit purpcses (SECY-86-344j; and drdft p a c k a ~ e t e s t c r i t e r i a (SECY-82-208).
The most recent. paper (SECY-61-208 date? ; ~ l y 12, IcJCP!
described d r a f t c r i r e r i a f o r a package drop t e s t from a carso a i r c r a f t ' s maxin~uiri cruise a l t i t u d e ( o r equivalent):
and f o r a CI-ash t e s t of an a i r c r a f t loaded with packages.
The technical basis f o r the t e s t c r i t e r i a i s described i n the Interim Report, " D r a f t Criteria f o r Package Drop and Packages," which was prepared by NRC's technical support contractor, Lawrence Liverniore tqational Labcratory (LLItL).
On July 14, 1989, with Commission approval, staff provided PNC d copy of the Irterim Report, as well as a copy of the Cost and Schedule Estimates f o r the testing and administra-t i v e program.
The NRC program was i n i t i a t e d a t PNC request, and the cost and schedule estimates were developed i n the ccntext of PllC's stated 1992 "need-date" f o r plutonium.
Fro~i; F. ~ ~. u s t 1 throuch 3, 1964, IlRC and LLKL staff met with PliC reyresentatjves t o discuss and respond t o questions about the reports.
CONTACT :
Jclir: K. Cook, l!liSS r9-2045e
The Commissioners Discussion:
Recent developments concern package testing and the schedule for the air-transport program. First, with regard to package testing, PNC has arranged with DOE and Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) to conduct developmental tests of two package designs to the air crash criteria of NUREG-0360.
The staff h6s no involvenrent in these tests. Staff is aware, however, that, in one of the tests at SNL, the developmental package did not perform as expected. PNC's package-development effort would be set back if the test results show that neither paci:aoe design can satisfy )XIREG-0360 criteria. If, however, the results show that one of the designs satisfies, or could he modified to satisfy, NUREG-0360 criteria, then a candidate pac1:age woulo have been identified for subsequent testing to satisfy the more severe Murkowski testing requirements.
With regard to the schedule for the air-transport program, Phase One of the testing and administrative program (discussed in SECY-88-22:)
is on sch~dule w i t h a September 30, 1990 completion date. For corollary plutonium shipment mode information, please consult classified Commission Paper,
Subject:
Sea Shipnient of Plutonium (U).
In a recent meeting, PNC stated that they would continue to pursue the developvent of an air transport package.
Phase Ont of the testing and administrative procjrani with LLNL will cor,clude with a final report on test crtteria by September 30, 199C. Staff anticipates ne~ctiating tern5 witk, FPC for Phase Two (request public conrment on test criteria) of the program in early 1990.
Coordination:
This paper has been coordinated with the Office cf the General Counsel, and it has no legal objection. The Office of Governmental and Fublic Affairs has also reviewed this docus:errt and concurred.
DISTRIBUTION:
Conmissioners OGC OIG LS S GPA REGIOKAL OFFICES ED0 ACRS ACX; ASLBP ASLAP SECY for Operat ions