ML19270H597
| ML19270H597 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/23/1979 |
| From: | Mccormick R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Tsipopoulos D HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML19262A636 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-79-471 NUDOCS 7912070203 | |
| Download: ML19270H597 (5) | |
Text
'
~
gs;c N-7.--
m;#
..)
5 E* - V z--
-~.C.;..
t UG 2 3 1:d
$E_hI;
@h.._it.
-=:
T:.=.==:
Ms. Dotty Tsipopoulos
+
Office of Congressman D' Amours United States House of Representatives
' ~~~
Washington, D.C.
20515 EE7 N.:.L..~.;.'
Dear Ms. Tsipopoulos:
- =..._
1.~
I am pleased to provide the information I promised in response to your tele-phone call of August 13, 1979 concerning the protection of spent fuel' shipments.
1 ZC The enclosed excerpt from a letter we prepared recently responds to the most J.~. 4 Also enclosed is a copy frequently asked questions concerning this matter.
of the new physical protection rule and a copy of a related guidance document.
_ =
Please let me know if I can
~
I hope this information will be useful to you.
be of further assistance.
[Z '
ORIGINAL SIGNED R. G. McCORMICK Richard G. McCormick, Deputy Director Division of Safeguards Office of Nuclear 'daterial Safety 5!-T and Safeguards
Enclosures:
~' O 1 199
' ~ ~ "
1.
Excerpt From Recent Ltr. Concerning Spent lE Fuel Shipments
, =:.
2.
Federal Reaister Notice
%=
Dated June 15, 1979 l.Ml.]
3.
=mw -
'.$5
=:::.
M t ;s M
DISTRIBUTION:
s' 55 NMSS r/f
\\
2(?.
SGRI 'r/f & s/f (Higdon)
CRONO 2;:
L.CSawyer nSee Previous concurrences RGMcCormick
' T_
...T
=--
=:
SGRI SGRI SGRI SG
=r
.......... p o m.. +-
.g........
...N.
f.h.I W.9.....
Y 0 0 s,,),[,,,,, M.T.Q..F,@lQh.,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,[
oo==.= a 9-
. 8/,M/,?.9,,,,,,,,8/,1 A/,.,,
.8/.1.4HL.
. 8/rB.9..
[
U Y
- u.s. * ~~~ ~ ~
kc ror.u m o.m.mcu one
== J112070
.._..._.a
=. r7 E -" ~~ - &;_.
+=1 y
. g. g.
. = =.
m
_ =....ss==
3-..
- _=.__..._.
,m....
-n;
-....-.._..s.....=.
.A EXCERPT FROM RECENT LETTER CONCERNING SPENT FUEL SHIPMENTS It is misleading to categorize spent fuel from research reactors as nuclear waste. The fuel contains valuable, recoverable high enriched uranium which can be reused after reprocessing.
For some years, it has been the policy of the Department of Energy (DOE) and its predecessor.ngencies to reprocess spent fuel under contract with the owners of foreign research reactors.
One impor-tant reason for this practice is that it contributes to U.S. efforts to reduce the risk of proliferation of nuclear weapons to other countries by raintaining U.S. control over the high enriched uranium.
The shipments enter the U.S. under the tems and conditions of import licenses issued by the NRC.
The shipments are subject to NRC and Department of Transportation regulations until they reach the DOE facility, after which they become the responsibility of DOE.
In general, in accordance with the Ate,:-ic Energy Act of 1954, the NRC would issue import licenses after making a deternination that the import activity would not be inimical to the coan defense and security of the U.S. and would not constitute an unreasonable risk to the public health and safety.
The safety and safeguards of these and other nuclear shipments are a subject of continuing review by the NRC. To ensure the safety of the public, we re.
quire that shipments be mde in casks which cre designed to withstand very severe accidents.
From this viewpoint, our recent studies have shown that no additional regulations are needed.
However, a recent study indicates the possibility of serious consequences to public health and safety if one postu-lates successful sabotage of a power reactor spent fuel shipment in a heavily.
populated area.
Although our studies have revealed no identifiable threat to spent fuel shipments, and although the casks are highly resistant to sabotage we nonetheless concluded that it would be a prudent precaution to issue interim '
regulations for the protection of both power reactor. spent fuel shipments and' research reactor spent fuel shipments against sabotage. The regalations (copy; enclosed) were issued on June 15, 1979 and becane effective on July 16, 1979.
We also published another document, designated NUREG 0561 (also enclosed),
which provides guidance for licensees in complying with the interim regula-tions.
We expect that thSe requirements will continue in effect until we can obtain%
results frcx2 an on-going.research progra= designed to detemine the vulnerabil g
.ity of spent fuel and spent fuel casts to attempted sabotage and the related S..
?
parameters necessary to estirate the health and safety consequences;. At thatj,',-
the, about one or two years hence, these new requirements ray be amended, :. 3, -
MJ. e e.. ~:
rescinded, or made permnent, as appropriate.-
- Q. g... W +, -A,
,' y g.-
.g
-g~y
=
e a he thrust of these regulations is to protect spent fuel shipments against...
sabotage.in heavily populated areas. This is to be done through a series of.
measures including route restrictions, preplanning of shipments, and coord,i,-
nation ~with local law enforcement agencies along the route to ovide.,
assistance if needed.
233]
101
.