ML19249D258
| ML19249D258 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/20/1979 |
| From: | Moore R NRC OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS (OIP) |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS (OIP) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 7909210430 | |
| Download: ML19249D258 (2) | |
Text
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SG 2 01979 MEMORANDUM FOR:
Files FROM:
R. Neal Moore, Senior Licensing Officer Office of International Programs
SUBJECT:
FINDINGS RELATING TO THE PROPOSED IMPORT OF IRRADIATED FUEL CONTAINING HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM - ISMN079008
=
in June,1979 NL Industries, Inc., requested a license authorizing the import of approximately 47 kilograms of uranium, containing approximately 27 kilo-grams of U-235, in irradiated fuel from the Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories NRX-NRU reactors. The material is in the form of solid U-Al fuel rods which originally contained uranium enriched to 93% U-235. The irradiated fuel contains small amounts of produced plutonium.
The material will be shipped by truck from Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories in Ontario to the Department of Energy Savannah River Project, Aiken, South Carolina for recovery of residual uranium. A total of nine shipments is planned utilizing the NL Industries Cask System #6502. This cask carries the IAEA certificate of Compliance Number USA /9103/B()F and meets the Departnent of Transportation requirements for transport of NRX-NRU irradiated fuel elements within the U.S.
. The material is in a nonvolatile, noncorrosive form in the package. The package is considered capable of withstanding a credible accident without rupturing.
In the unlikely event that a rupture did occur any release of con-tents would be limi6 if the mimimum mobile inventory available and by the construction and composition of the fuel elements.
NL Industries has been transporting similar loads of spent fuel from Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories to the Savannah River Project since 1966 without a erious incident. During the same time period, hundreds of other similar shi, lents have been made to SRP without incident. The proposed import will not result in any significant change in the probability of a potential acci-dent and will have no environmental impact over that resulting from the domes-tic transport of similar material.
The radiological impacts from import shipments were further evaluated in the Final Environmental Statement of the Transportation of Radioactive Material by Air and Other Modes, NUREG-0170, and were determined to be negligible compared to impacts from domestic shipments.
The material meets the conditions of 10 CFR 73.6(b) with respect to separability and radiation levels; consequently, it is exempt from the physical security re-quirements of 10 CFR 73.30 through 73.36. However, the shipment will be subject to protection according to the physical security requirements for the transport.
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of irradiated reactor fuel as set out in 10 CFR 73.37, (44 FR 34467, June 15, 1979).
The staff finds that this import will not be inimical to the comon defense and security, will not constitute an unreasonable risk to the healtti and safety of the public and yll have no significant environmental impact.
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R. Neal Moore F
Senior Licensing Officer f-Export / Import and International t
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