ML20034B121
| ML20034B121 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/22/1990 |
| From: | Rathbun D NRC OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL & PUBLIC AFFAIRS (GPA) |
| To: | Moynihan D SENATE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20034B122 | List: |
| References | |
| CCS, NUDOCS 9004260036 | |
| Download: ML20034B121 (2) | |
Text
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March 22,1990 The Honorable Daniel Moynihan United States Senate Washington, D. C.
20510
Dear Senator Moynihan:
This is in response to your letter dated February 23, 1990, forwarding correspondence from your constituent, Mr. Michael J. Kennedy, regarding aproposedshipmentofhighenricheduranium(HEU)toRomania.
In 1973 a U.S. TRIGA research reactor was-licensed for export to Romania by the Atomic Energy Commission for teaching, basic research, and radio-active isotope production.
In 1978, 38' kilograms (kgs) of HEU fabricated into plates to fuel the research reactor was licensed for export pursuant to arrangements concluded under the U.S./ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)AgreementforCooperation. At that time, an additional 16.5 kgs of HEU was purchased by the Romanians, but was held in the U.S.'until the-reactor needed its first reload. This material was licensed for export in August 1988 by the Nuclear Regulatory Connission. -
This HEU was the.last high enriched uranium fuel produced by-General-Atomics for TRIGA research reactors, and was intended to-permit sufficient operation of the reactor to test prototype low enriched fuel t-(LEU) fuel elements to allow full core conversion of the reactor to LEU L
fuel.
LEU fuel for this model of reactor is still undergoing final testing before certification by the NRC for full core reactor.use. All future exports of uranium to fuel this reactor are expected to be LEU.
All Romanian nuclear facilities are subject to IAEA safeguards under the 1
Government of Romania agreement with the IAEA pursuant to Romania'_s adherence to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
IAEA safeguards inspectors visit the site regularly (a visit took place in December 1989, anu another is planned for the first quarter of 1990).
In addition, under the terms of the NRC export _ license, the Romanian Government pledges the material will be used only for non-military research. On January 20,-1990, U.S. Embassy officials.
visited the reactor site and observed the fuel in the reactor as well as stored spare fuel plates. The Embassy officials also noted the stringent-security measures in place, which_were consistent with those observed by a U.S. team of physical protection experts which visited Romania in June 1989.
In light of the recent events in Romania, there are no near-term plans for the release of the HEU fuel from the U.S., where it remains in the custody of the U.S. Department of Energy.
If the new government of p
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2 Romania raises the issue with the U.S., there will be a careful reassessment of the situation to ensure that the material will be subject to strict nonproliferation commitments and adequately protected before authorizing its release.
At the February 1990 IAEA Board of Governors meeting the Romanian representative stated "(t)he new Romanian Governnent is dedicated to' fulfill all the obligations undertaken under the existing international agreements into which Romania entered. That includes NPT, safeguards agreements concluded with the IAEA and some member states, as a means to mitigate proliferation of nuclear weapons.
...It is Romania's firm commitment to build and operate power-reactors and research reactors and use special fissionable material for peaceful purposes only."
If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate-to contact me.
. Sincerely, kJwl/~
Dennis K. Rathbun, Director Congressional Affairs Office of Governmental and Public Affairs 1
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