ML20127P234
| ML20127P234 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/05/1992 |
| From: | Selin I NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Watkins J ENERGY, DEPT. OF |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20127P204 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9212020152 | |
| Download: ML20127P234 (3) | |
Text
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[c ceev%o, UNITED STATES
'n NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION A
i WASHINGTON, D. C,20555 g-q November 6, 1992 CHAIRMAN The Honorable James D. Watkins Secretary of Energy Washington.
D.C.
20585
Dear Mr. Secretary:
Section 903 of the Energy policy Act of 1992 requires the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to submit to Congret s within 90 days a report on the disposition of the highly enriched uranium (HEU) which has been exported from the United States.
Because this report is to be developed in consultation with other relevant agencies, I am writing to invite the Department of Energy's participation in a working group to prepare a draft report for review and coordination by our two agencies and the Department of State.
The Commission is directed to include in the report the current location of the HEU, its status with respect to irradietion, whether or not the material has in each case been used for the purpose stated on the export license, and if used for an alternative purpose, whether or not the Commission approved this other use.
Also, we are required to include, to the maximum extent possible, retransfers within EURATOM without regard to the extent of U.S. control.
The Nuclear Material Management Safeguards System (NMMSS) located at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory contains extensive information on U.S.
exports and imports of nuclear material.
Moreover, specialists at the Argonne National Laboratory, who are providing technical support to the Department of Energy (DOE) in the Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors (RERTR) program, have over the last few years, in connection with that program, sorted and augmented the NMMSS data on exported HEU, providing a good foundation for the Section 903 report.
Therefore, I also request that you make available one or more of the Argonne RERTR specialists to provide technical support to this effort.
This support could be supervised by your working group participant.
9212020152 921105 ORRES ON E E PDR
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i
~2-I am also requesting the Department of State to use U.S.
diplomatic channels to request countries who have received U.S.
origin HEU exports to verify U.S.
information on previous transactions and to volunteer additional informa-tion.
Such additional information could include possible changes in end use, amounts of irradiated and unirradiated material in each country's present inventory, and intra-EURATOM transfers.
Enclosed is a list of major milestones and a proposed schedule for draiting and clearing the requested report in the 90 days allowed by the Act.
I would appreciate your confirmation that this proposed plan is agreeable to the Department.
The NRC staff contact for the study is Ronald Hauber, Assistant Director for Exports, Security and Safety Cooperation, Office of International Programs.
His telephone number is 301/504-2344.
Sincerely, Ivan Selin
Enclosure:
Proposed Schedule, Section 903 Report to Congress on U.S.
Exports of HEU cc:
The Honorable Lawrence S. Eagleburger Acting Secretary of State i
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DPAFT Proposed Schedule Section 903 Report to Conaress on U.S. Exoorts of HEU Proposed Due Date Action Recuired Lead Responsibility Week of Nov 9 Interagency working group mtg NRC (Workplan and assignments)
Week of Nov 23 Requests to foreign govts.
DOS Week of Dec 7 Interagency working group mtg NRC (Review first draft)
Week of Dec 15 Responses from foreign govts.
DOS Week of Dec 28 Interagency working group mtg NRC (Review second draft)
Week of Jan 4 Initiate final clearance NRC Week of Jan 11 Transmit the report NRC DRAFT