ML20126G973
| ML20126G973 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/27/1981 |
| From: | Thompson H Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation |
| To: | James Shea NRC OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS (OIP) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20126G977 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8104020731 | |
| Download: ML20126G973 (1) | |
Text
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[ "**4 M N3 UNITED STATES
-8" NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION o
WASHINGTON. D. C. 20555.
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MAR 2 71981 g
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MEMORANDUM FOR: James R. Shea, Director Office of Interr.tional Programs C
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FROM:
Hugh L. Thompson, Acting Director Planning and Program Analysis Staff Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation O
SUBJECT:
COMMENTS REGARDING DOWNSIZING 0F NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS Your Memorandum dated March 20, 1981 to Harold R. Denton requested our comments-on a November 10, 1980 article in Business Week entitled, " Downsizing Nuclear Plants."
The concept of using a nuclear reactor to generate process heat is not new.
It was studied intensively years ago when coal and oil prices were a small fraction of today's prices. Whether any concept will be selected for use with today's higher fuel prices is based on economic considerations and regulatory considerations.
NRR does not have an opinion on the practicality of the Canadian Slowpoke. We did note that many of the problems and limitations associated with using a reactor for process heat are mentioned in the attached factual information on reactor downsizing in other countries.
With the rules as they are presently written, a Slowpoke type reactor would be subject to regulatory requirements for a utilization facility, i.e.,10 CFR Part 50, " Domestic Licensing of Production and Utilization Facilities", and as presently written would be required to conform to the applicable requirements for a nuclear power plant including protective systems and operator staffing.
Moreover,10 CFR Part 73, " Physical Protection of Plants and Materials,"
would require that certain precautions be taken to protect against sabotage.
These existing regulatory requirements would tend to restrict the use of a Slowpoke in every hotel as the article suggests.
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hom son c
ig Director P
ning and Pr ra nalysis Staff Office of Nucl r Reactor Regulation n#'
8104020
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