ML19249B321
| ML19249B321 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/16/1979 |
| From: | James Shea NRC OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS (OIP) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19249B323 | List: |
| References | |
| SECY-79-368A, NUDOCS 7909040267 | |
| Download: ML19249B321 (3) | |
Text
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July 16,1979 SECY-79-368A COMMISSIONER ACTION for:
The Comissioners Frcm:
James R. Shea, Director Office of International Programs f
L.W -1 Executive Cirector for Operatic.1s I g Thru :
Subject:
b PR W :D LICENSE TO EXPORT SCURCE MATERIAL TO FRANCE tXUC846i,SECY-79-368)
Purcose:
s,cmission review of proposed issuance of export license to Transnuclear Incorporated Review Dates:
60-day pericd expires on July 30, 1979 120-day period expires on September 30, 1979 Discussion:
In May 1979, Transnuclear Incorporated filed an application
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for a license to export 126,000 kilograms of depleted uranium as. metal and UF6 to France.
COGEMA is acquiring this material through exercise of the tails option under D.O.E. enrichment contracts numbers UES/123 (Fessenheim II reactor) and UES/130 (But / III reactor).
It will be used for a variety of ballast applications such as in the keels of yachts and sailboats, counterneights for machine"y systems,in gyroscopes for inertia
'morovement, in sporting equipment, and for metallurgical alloy tests.
In assessing the reascnableness of the proposed end uses, the staff has.5een informed that approximately 45 to 50 cercent of the displacement weight of a sailboat is in the keel. Cn this basis the keel of a typical 35' sailboat wculd recuire between four and six thousand pcunds of ballast. A 12-meter yacht wculd recuire acproximately 35,CC0 pcunds of ballast.
The use of depleted uranium as boat ballast has been examined in the past by domestic boat builders and found not to be feasible due to environmental f actors, technological proolems and costs (aoproximately $8 per pound for depleted uranium versus 15d per pound for lead).
On the other hand, there are advantages to esing depleted uranium as ballast in that the weight can be placed icwer in the keel or the keel can be
Contact:
R. N. Score (192-7984)
J. D. Lee (192-7984) d, O l ' O,2 3
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2 Discussion:
thinner, creating less drag; consequently, in specific ap-(Cont'c.)
plications a boat manufacturer may be willing to accept the costs for use of uranium.
At the staff's request, CCGEMA confinned that the material will be used only for ncn-nuclear purposes. Ceoleted uranium for a non-nuclear end-use is not subject to the export licens-ing criteria contained in 10 CFR 110.42. Further, such materi-als fall within the categories of materials listed under 10 CFR 110.41(d) which are not normally eviewed by the Execu-tive Branch.
With respect to the CCGEMA facility in France, the staff notes that France, as a nuclear weapon state, is not sub-ject to !fEA safeguards. Although France will voluntarily submit facilities to Agency safeguards, the staff is not aware that the CCGEMA facility is under a facility attach-ment. EURATCM safeguards, nevertheless, will continue to apply to the CCGEMA facility.
The staff has concluded that there are no material changed circumstances concerning exports to France wnich would af-fect the Ccmmission's consideration of licensing criteria and which have cccurred since export license XUC8aC source material for a non-nuclear end use, was issued en September 13, 1978.
The folicwing dc.ments are forwarded for Ccmmission review of the subject appl.icaticn:
(1) application dated May 3, 1979 (Appendix A)', and (2) cecy of the proposed license ( Ap-pendix 3).
NMSS Technical NM55 has received no information cn plans for IAEA safe-Revi ew:
guards implementatien in rance. However, it is un'ikely that the experted material will be subject to IAEA safeguards centrols.
Physical security criteria contained in 10 CFR Sections 110.42 and 110.43 are not acclicable to this excert.
Reccamenda tion :
That the proposed license be issued to Transnuclear Incorporated.
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\\ I r.r 14 Cecrdination:
ELD has no legal objections. NMSS views en IAEA safeguards and physical security are as stated above.
Jam R. Shea, Director Of ce of International Programs Enclosures :
As stated DISTRIBUTION:
Commis sicners Ccmmission Staff Offices Executive Director for Operations Secretariat NOTE: Ccanissioner cannents shculd be provided directly to the Office of the Secreta ry, by c.o.b.
Wednesday, July 25, 1979 Ccmmission staff office comments, if any, should be sdbmitted to the COmmi:.sioners NLT July 23, 1979
, sitn an information ccpy to the Office o.
the Secretary.
If the paper is of such a nature that it recuires additional time for analytical review and comment, the Ccamiss fcners and the Secretariat should be apprised of when comments may be expected.
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