ML20032C741
| ML20032C741 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | University of Michigan |
| Issue date: | 09/21/1981 |
| From: | NRC OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS (OPA) |
| To: | |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20032C740 | List: |
| References | |
| PR-81-148, NUDOCS 8111100886 | |
| Download: ML20032C741 (2) | |
Text
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UNiyED STATES i
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- Office of Public Affairs Washington, D.C. 20555
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No.81-148 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tel.
301/492-7715 (Monday, September 21, 1981)
NRC PROPOSES ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS FOR SOME RESEARCH REACTORS The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is proposing additional physical security requirements for nonpower reactor licensees who possess five formula kilograms or more of strategic special nuclear material (primarily uranium-235 contained in high-enriched uranium).
Licensees would be required to implement the additional security measures only during periods when:
(1) the amount of strategic special nuclear material possessed equals or exceeds five formula kilograms (as defined in NRC regulations);
and (2) the material has an external dose rate not exceeding.
100 rem per hour at a distance of three feet from any accessible surface without intervening shielding.
However, all nonpower reactor licensees authorized to possess five formula kilograms or more of strategic special nuclear material would be required to submit revis d physical security plans describing how they would implement the addi-tional requirements if it became necessary to do so.
As proposed, the affected nonpower reactor licensees would be required to have an approved physical security plan which would provide the following additional security measures:
(1) additional phy-ical barriers around the strategic special nuclear material; (2) improved intrusion and radiation detection capabilities; (3) a two-person occupancy rule for controlled access areas where the material is used and stored; (4) exit searches; 50-
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(6) 48-hour advance notice by the licensed to the NRC when it is expected the additional requirements will need to be implemented; 'and (7) ' coordination of local law enforcement agency (LLEA) response times and physical security system capabilities to assure off-site response forces will arrive before a formula quantity of strategic special nuclear material can be removed.
Commissioners Victor Gilinsky and Peter Bradford favor an alternative approach and would like public comment on it.
The Commission does not object to their requesting such comments, but, because the Commission does not endorse the alternative, comments in support of that proposal will not form a basis for adopting a final rule without another round of' comment. Commenters desiring to influence the Commission to adopt this alternative are therefore advised to frame their views as negative comment on the Commission proposal.
The approach favored by Commissioners Gilinsky and Bradford would require all nonpower reactors that possess in excess of five kilograms of highly enriched uranium fuel to implement the safeguards upgrade rule.
An exemption from this requirement would be provided if the fuel emits external radiation at a rate that would produce a dose greater than 2,000 rem.per hour at three feet, a level at which the fuel is considered to be self-protecting.
' Comments on the proposed amendments to Parts 50, 70, and 73 of the NRC's regulations are being received by the Commission through November 17, 1981.
They should be addressed to the Secretary of the Commission, Nuclear D.egulatory Commission, Washington, D.C. 20555, Attention: Docketing and Service Branch.
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