ML20043F451

Forwards DOE 900523 Application for License to Export Pu & U to Euratom Countries.Assistance in Obtaining Necessary Assurances Requested

ML20043F451
Person / Time
Issue date:	06/12/1990
From:	Peterson M NRC OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL & PUBLIC AFFAIRS (GPA)
To:	Rooney J ENERGY, DEPT. OF
References
NUDOCS 9006150025
Download: ML20043F451 (1)

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UNITED STATES

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Mr. John Rooney Technology Policy Division Office of Classification and Technology. Policy U.S. Department of Energy Washington, D.C.

20585

Dear Mr. Rooney:

Enclosed please find a request from the Department of Energy to export plutonium and uranium to EURATOM for the purpose of U.S.-EURATOM collaborative research. A letter of assurance is required that the material will be subject to all of the terms and conditions of an agreement for cooperation.

Your assistance in obtaining the necessary assurance will be appreciated.

Sincerely, C

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Marvin R. Peterson, Assistant Director for International Security, Exports and Materials Safety International Programs Office of Governmental and Public Affairs

Enclosure:

Appl. dtd. 5/23/90 (XSNM02541 - Belgium) 9006150025 900612 PDR XPORT XSNM-2541 PDC

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Department of Energy

%d001644 Washington, DC 20585 gim4315 a

EY 2 31990 Ms. Betty Wright International Security, D: port and Nuclear Safety U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Ormission

. Washingtcn, D.C.

20555

Dear Ms. Wright:

D1 closed please find our application for an IGC Export License. We would appreciate your early approval.

Please direct any questicns to im - 586-6185.

Sincerely, 24MW//vde Theodore A. Hart l

Nuclear Matl Programs Officer l

Office of International Affairs 1

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4-hm.C PO*M 7 U.S. NUCLE A'A CE* ULATORY COMMIS$10N APP!?VE D SY OMS (1241) 3164 0027 10 C5R 110 APPLICATION FOR LICENSE TO EXPORT NUCLEAR EXPIRES 12 :147 MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT /seeInstructions on Acwesel

1. APPLICANT'S le. D AT E OF APPLIC ATioN b APPLICANT'S REFERENCE 2.NRC e DOCKET N$16 bNSMM095&l ICENSE NO llno&

5/23/90 uSE uSE

3. APPLICANT'S NAME AND ADDRESS l RIS

4. SUPPLIER'S NAME AND ADDRESS M

IComplete if oppincent ts not sapplser of more..eti U.S. Departrent of Energy los Ala:Tos Naticnal Laboratory D. STREE T ADDRESS e NAME Office of InurnaHmal Affa irs-TL 13

c. CIT Y STATE ZIP CODE

b. ST RE ET ADDRESS Washingtcn DC 20585 o Tl LE PHON E NUM S E R (Arte Coae - /vumber - f arenssont

c. CITY STATE ZIP CODE los Alanos NM 87545

6. FIRST SHIPMENT

6. FIN AL SHIPMENT 7. APPLICANT *$ CONTRACTUAL S. PROPOSED LICENSE

9. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 3CHEDULE D SCHE DULE D DELIVERY DATE EXPIRATlDN DATE CONTRACT NO. IIf Known/

Not known Not knwr m

12/31/92 Not known

10. ULTIMATE CONSIGNE E fits

11. ULTIMATE END USE l _

finauarpiantor1wi.tynomei

entral Bureay for Nuclear Measurements Collaborative efforts to reduce the inaccuracies of uranium and, plutonium da

b. ST RE ET ADDRESS reprocessing plants

c. CIT Y - ST A1 E - COUNTR Y Geel, BeloitzTi 11.. EST. DATE OF FIRST USE

12. INTERMEDI ATE CONSIGNEE l RIS

13. INTERMEDIATE END USE l-a NAuf None D. STREE T ADDRESS

c. CIT Y - ST ATE - COUNT RY 13a EST. DATE OF FIRST USE

14. INTERMEDIATE CONSIGNEE l RIS

15. INTERMEDI ATE END USE l

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. NAME

b. STRE E T ADDRESS

c. CIT Y - ST ATE - COUNT R Y 16a. EST. DATE OF FIRST USE 16.

17. DESCRIPTION 18, MAX. ELEMFNT 19. MAX. 20. MAX 21.

NRC (Inctuce chemicalandchysrca!!orm oinvenre maternet. gove cottar velue et

' WEIGHT WT.%

ISOTOPE WT.

UNIT USE nucke equecmont and components)

See attachments, letter dated April 27, 1990, Behrens to Hart l

22. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.-

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23. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN-SNM l

24. COUNTRIES WHICH ATTACH lr SOURCE MATERI AL WHERE ENRICHED OR PRODUCED SAFEGUARDS (If Kncwn)

USA USA N/A 25, ADDITION AL IN FORM ATION (use separate s6ect i/ neceswri

26. The applicent certifies that this application is prepared in conformity with Title 10. Code of Federal Regulations. and that all information in this applecation 6s correct to the best of his'her knowledge.

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MSARMOS xsunnoasM Los Alamos NabonalLaboratory

\\\\Q % $ 6 Los Alamos.New Merico 87545 April 27, 1990 CM/NM:90 103 Mr. Theodore A. }l art U.S. Department of Energy IE 13 FORSTL Washington, DC 20545 De ar Mr. Hart:

This letter is to request that the NRC export license XSNM02377 be amended oc -

to include the following isotopes:

a cas o n isotone Purftv (Atom 4)

Ouantitv, 235U 19.9 19.996 300 grams.

233U

<59%

2 grams 2360

<954 2 grams 239 PU

<97.5%

2 grams PU

<90%

2 grams g, _,,,

PU

<90%

2 grams===

' rl l ug s o r :

In addition, I am requesting a six month extension of the license as i W

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unlikely that Los Alamos will be able to prepare, package and ship this material prior to expiration of the license.

I have one question concerning designation of the consignee.

Will this material have to be shipped to the Central Bureau for Nuclear Measurerrents-(CBNM) in Belgium through the Intermediate consignee which is the. European

/+cl ore Institute for Transuranium Elernents, Karlsruhe, Federal Republic of f cd84 Germany, or can it be shipped directly to CBNM7 At your convenience, pleese call me at PTS 843 9807 in order to clarify this point.

Thank you for your assistance with this matter.

Sincerely, M?

bks.w Robert G. Behrens

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Program Manager Material Management

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P. T. Cunningham, CM NM/f628 R. E. Perrin, INC 7/J514 cl/ ;-/,, /p J. Baca, DOE AL/A199 CRM 4/A150 NM File An towat Opporwuty Employer /Operstett t'y tree Univer$4y of Cahfornia

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$7 Los Alamos NatonalLatcretory LosAtamos.NewMeoco87545 CM/NM.90:92 10 April 1990 l

Mr. Theodore A. Hart

'It.13 PVRSTL USDOE Washington, DC 20545 l

Dear Mr. Hart:

C.,

As a follow.up to discussions you have had with Richard Perrin of Los Alamos National Laboratory, I an attaching a copy of an " Agreement for Cooperation," that was prepared by CBNM and the Laboratory.

It outlines a collaborative effort, and discusses the required shipment of several materials.

I believe the information contained in the addendum concerning transfer of isotopes will help in your determinations about shipment.

Please note that this agreement between CBNM and Los Alamos was designed similar to agreement between Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (contact:

Carlos Colmenares) and the European Institute for Transuranium Elements. An NRC export license was issued, and a copy is attached for your information.

If you abould require further information or have questions, please feel free to contact ne'at FTs 843 9807.

Thank you for your sessistance in this matter.

Sincerely,

(

Robert G. Behrens Program Manager Materials Management attachment: ' Agreement for Cooperation" Los Alamos /CBNM - Morse / Muller Export License for EITE L

xc: P. Cunningham, CM/NM, F628 i

J. Baca, DOE /AL A199 R.'Perrin, INC.7, JS14 File CRM-4 (2)

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ySumO15M aca n ran aamune u oogis The undersigned Prof. Dr. W. NQ11er, Director of CSNM acting for Central Bureau for Nuelaar Measurements (CBNN),

Steenweg op Rette, 2440 Seel, Belgius Dr. F. A. Norse., Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of California, Las Alamos, New Mesloo agree on the following :

1.

CBNM and LANL, each have special espertise in the field of isotope ratie mass spectrometry especially for nuclear materials and Safeguares.

2.

CBNM and LANL wish to foster the application of isotope ratio mass spect*ometry to the advancement of asasurement scionee and to i

l taprove the safeguarding of nuclear fuels, which depends on the proper use of isotope ratio asas specteteatry.

3.

Therefore, CSNN and LANL will enter into a series of cooperative l

programs, outlined in appendices attached herewith, in order to achieve the objectives states in paragraph 2 above.

h Dr. Fred A. Norse Assoc. Dir, for Research Prof. Dr. W. M011er Los Alamos National Laboratory Director CBNM

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Areas for Collaborative Efort This document identlSes three areas where collaborations between the Los Alamm Nationa,1 Laboratory and b Central Buruu for Nuclear Measurements (CBNM) can reasonably be expected.to produce elsalteant beneits for the measurement and safeguarding of 6ss material wherever the sencepts are applied. The complimentary expertise and facilities of the two participants are such that these tasha can be carried out more efBciently in a collaborattw efort than could be done by either participant acting alone.

The three collaboratin eforts are outlined brie 87 la b following section with no attempt j to denne la detall b respectin roles of the participants. That must be accomplished i

after b framework for b collaboration is established.

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l The goal of this efort will be to reduce the inaccuracles of U and Pu concentration men.

surements of input solutions to reprocessing plants (presently estimated at 2296) as well -

as realising ladependent veri $ cation of thee measurements by:

1.A Donlopment of the U/Pu allow spiking technique for concentration determinations

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of U and Pu la undiluted input samples beyond the ongolas demonstration of the j

technique at CBNM Gael WAK Karlsruhe as requested by IAEA. This technique has been denloped at CBNM in Gal.1 The improvements will include:

t 1.A.1 Addition of assU metal (1 to 5%) to the tasgjssePu metal spike to build la an accurately known ratio of "U/*U as an laternal isotope reference l

ratic.

1 1.A.2 Substitution of 8'8Pu metal for b presently used *Pu to expand the applicability of b technique to laclude both high burnup Pu (Iow *Pu) and low burnup Pu (high "Pu).

1.A.3 Addition of se4p, e.g ; p g, gg,,1 gg,, g, sesPu) to build la an accurately known ratio of 348Pu/s4sPu as an laternalisotope reference ratio.

1.B Expanding the application of the metal spike *hlaus to permit accurate deter-mination of b " mass of solution

• la b input accountability tank by:

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i 1.8.1 Attempt to prepare a triple metal splie assgjse:Pu/"Nd to permit usay of the Nd Assion product concentratian in the taput tank.

1.B.2 spiking the input tan): with a go/no go metal capsule containing an accu.

l rately knearn NNd cc.mpound.

1.B.3 Redetermining the changed Nd concentration in & laput tuk, thus allowing to compute ucurr,sely the mass of solution in the tank (as opposed to the classical volar, of the tank).

Note:

1. Withholding the charuteristics of the spikes (1sotopic composition, elemental ratlos, mass) from the operator guarantess that the verification meuuremen l

cannot be defeated by dellberate additions by the operator.

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2. The end results are valid for time and place of spiking (not' time and place l

of analysis as la classical chemical musuremen%).

3. Final results can be calculated as total amounts of Assile isotope ses u,-

8"Pu, sa:Pu M.

4. The method can be reapplied to precisely measure the amount of each fisslie isotope in the tank heel after transfer of the bulk of & material.

8. The mixing rate of the solution in the tank can be sceurately determined by monitoring isotope ratio through measurements until they become constant and, hence, until full homogent stion is accomplished.

6. For additional advantages see literature citations,

7. Measurements sould be done on alte if a suitable verification of on alte mea-surement gan11ty can be put into operation. (See Item m) This would elimi-nate the necessity of shipping samples between faellities. Only data tranimie, alon would than be required. This procedure would be attempted only after.

all other components of Item I and Item m were sucessfully demonstrated in the collaborating laboratories.

3. The determination of the mass of solution is density and, hence, temperature ladopendant and is, therefore, a better musurement.

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Ptepare for the haplementation of *1901 Target Values for Uncertainty Components of l

Flasile Isotope and Element Assay la Nuclear Materials." This would require the folloo 'nz eforts:

2.A Demonstration of improved neuurement techn! ques to improve the state of the practice. See Items I and M as essaples.

2.8 Systematic review and lacorporation of additional criteria from:

2.8.1 Safeguards and Strategic Risk Assessments.

3.B.2 International treatles and regulatory statutes.

2.8.3 Criticality contro!,

t i.B.4 Febile concerns and acceptance.

2.C Identitention of areas where signi8 cant improvements in the state of the practice will be required to achieve the target value. (REIMEP program is an example of' one tool available for'this efort.)

Item W Demonstrate ladspendent ver18 cation of on site isotopic measurements by:

3.1 Prepeation of mass spectrometer sample & laments with U or Pu of accurately known isotopic composition. Protect the integrity of the sample Alaments by cov-ering the sample with an electro lytically deposited coating of platinum. This tech-1 nique has been developed and tested at the Los Alamos National Laboratory.(8'84 3.2 Ship such 81 aments, prepared in the evaluating laboratory, as "unknowr.s" to on site laboratories for measurement by the on site laboratory and return of Anal results to the evaluation laboratory. (A small scale demonstration of this concept has been l

achieved between the Los Alamos National Laboratory and Rockwell Hanford.)

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\\\\COHL5 3.3 The evaluation laboratory can, from the returned results, evaluate both th of the lastrument measuring detectors and the adequacy of measurement control of the on site laboratory. This evaluation is ladopendent of blank, chemistry and material purity problems at the on site laboratory. These problems can then be addrw%0 \\.y analysis of appropriate reference materit,ls by the on site laboratory.

3.4 Successik 4,menstration of this technique would permit the use of on site laborato measurements for the ladopendent vari 8 cation techniques outllnod la sution six of Item L On site laboratorie would 331 be utillsed for the demonstration phase of Item L n

References

1. "An Accurate Procedure to Safeguard the Fissile Matula! Content of Input and Output Solutions of Reprocesslag Plante,' P. DeBlevre, J. Van Andenhove; Se/e.

i ruarding Nuclear Materials, Vol. !!, IAEA.8M 201/108, pp. 493-497.

2. "The Preparation and Use of Synthette footope Mixture for Testing Mass Spec-I tremeters," K. J. R. Ronnan, W. Lyche, R. Damen, R. Wus, F. Henrickx, L. Trass, and P. DeBlevre; Int. J. Maas Sportrem. lon Prx. 79,61 71.

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3. "ThermalIonisation Maas Spectrometry of Uranium with Electrodeposition of Ura.

nium as a Loading Techalque," D. J. Rokop, R. E. Perrin, G. W. Knobeloch, V. M.

Armijo, and W. R. Shields; Anal. Chm. 54, 957 960 (1982).

4. *!sotopic Analysis of Nanosram Quantitles of Plutonium Uslag a $1D Ionisation source,' R. E. Perrin, G. W. Enobeloch, V. M. Armijo, and D. W. Efurd; Int. J.

Mees Spectrom. len Proe. 64, 17 24.

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ADDENDUM FOR TRANSFER OF 150 TOPE 5 i

Richard E. Perrin Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos, New Mexico Group INC.7 of Los Alamos National Laboratory and the joint Raurch Center of the Commission of Nuclear Measurements of the European Communities, at the Central Buruu for Nuclear 'Meuurements wish to foster the application of isotope ratio mass spectrometry to the advancement of measurement science and to improve the safeguarding of nuclear fuels which depends on the proper use of isotope ratio mass spectrometry. Past collaboration between DOE laboratories and Joint Ruurch Center of the Europun Communitin have been very productive and its continuity will be beneficial to nuclear musurement science.

EEQED.5AL To ship to CBNM quanitites of enriched isotops of Uranium and Plutonluth to be used in the prepatstion of mixed isotopes apike standtrds. These standards will be used to improve the accuracy for musuring uranium and plutonium concentrations in accountability solutions at various points in the fuel cycle. The goals and s the genera collaboration agreement. (Attached) pecific mixtures are detailed in items (A) Initially small quanitiu of the isotopes will be chemically purified and converted to oxides of known stoichrometric composition. Weighted quanities of these oxides will be dissolved in nitric acid and appropriate quanities of the solutions mixed to achieve the tests. Thue tuts will prove the concepts and the achievable improvements in measurement accuracy.

(B) After the demonstration phase has been completed, the remaining isotopes will be weighed as metal and melted by levitation melting to form alloys with specific isotopic compositions. Thue alloys will be subdivided in ~ 20 mg portions for use as spikes for individual anelysis. A portion ci thue spikes will be uti ired to certify the accuracy of the process. The remainder will be individually packaged for use in field demon-strations for independant verificat'.on of safeguards accountability measurements at fuel reprocessing facilities under safeguards agreement with IAEA. The distribution of thue spikes will be subject to the normal controls impond by CBNM for distribu-tion of nuclear standards. Additional controls may be imposed as required by DOE regulations.

I These projects make use of the unique standards preparation capabilities which exist at CBNM, Thue include levitation melting vacuum furnaces, parallel punfication and ignition systems to assure matching stoiehiometry. controlled atmosphere boxes for packaging standards and computer prcgrams for calculation of allindividual error terms which hmit the accuracy of preparing specific saotopic mixturu.

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.s-ucc4sE BENErlTS TO D.O.E. PROGRAM _$

The preparation of isotopic spikes with agggggigly known internal normalization isotope pairs will permit independant verification of the largut uncertainty in the measurement of itoto Ic ratios which is isotopic fractionation. The abihty to inde >endently verify this error term wi:1 permit independant assignment of error terms for isotope di ution measurements from processing facilities. Additionallf this knowledge will permit the procusing facility to improve its measurement capabilitiu. T,his techniqu can then be apphed wherever highly accurate determination of elemental concentrations are required. Such menurements are duitable in geochemical research. environmental research, and in the determination of more accurate atomic weights and other physical constants. Los Alamos has access to these isotopes in highly pure chemical forms which are not available to CBNM. Los Alamos Laboratory hu a very broad based program in mass spectrometry with will derive numerous benefits from the availability of such spiku.

MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS AND USE TERMS The U and Pu isotopes required should be of the best chemical purity available.

High levels of impuritin will necusitate edditional chemical puri8ication with the attendant losses required by analytical essay. The isotopic purities and quar.tities desired are listed in Table 1:

Table 1 ISOTOPE DESIRED ENRICHMENT QUANTITY (g) 8"U 19.9 - 19.99 %

300 2"U

>59%

2 8"

8"U

>95%

2 Pu

>97.5%

1 848Pu

>90%

2

"'Pu

>90%

2 The materials will be consumed in the preparation of the spike standards. The spike l

standards will be stored at CBNM until transferred to inspectors for actual use. When the spike standard is transferred into an accountability sample it will be dissolved and equilibrated with the Uranium and Plutonium in the sample. At this point, it is non recoverable in its original Isotopic form and becomu part of the analytical sample. The uranium and plutonium will then l.

become part of the reprocessed waste stream at the facility where it is utilized. The cost of the accountable material plus the cost of transportation will be paid by CBNM. The director of the CBNM will assume ruponsibility for the transferred material. Complete accountablility and records of the use of the material will be kept and summarized in writing to LANL on a yearly basis. At the end of the losses will be provided to LANL, project, a comp ete accountability of the material detailing Accountable material transferred for this project will not be trar.sferred or loaned in any shape or form to the Soviet Union or their satelite countries, India, Pakistan, and Israel without the explicit written consent of the U.S.D.O.E.

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)(SNTh02SM tico4als CBNM will acknowledge L ANL in all publications. The isotopes of the two elements to be transferred to CBNM are avai'able and special preparation costs will not be incurred.

$AFEG11ARDS The main repository for the transfer of radioactive material is the Central Bureau for Nuclear Measurements, a joint research center for the Commission of European Communities located within GEEL Establishment at GEEL Belgium. Accounting of all radioactive material at CBNM is maintained by protocols developed by the Commission of the European Cummunities based on the International Atomic Energy' June 1377. document INF CIRC 225 Re Agen

" Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials, t

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