ML20128Q730
| ML20128Q730 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/21/1983 |
| From: | Chilk S NRC OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY (SECY) |
| To: | Dircks W NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20127B589 | List:
|
| References | |
| FOIA-84-784, FRN-49FR27769 AB60-2-076, AB60-2-76, AB61-2-76, NUDOCS 8507150069 | |
| Download: ML20128Q730 (2) | |
Text
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,.- UNITED 5TATES j -
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION vsA*HINotow,oc zones ,
,,,,, June 21, 1983 otract or Tus .
SECRETARY I
MEMORANDUM FOR:
William for OperationsJ. Dircks, Executive Director FROM: /p Samuel J. Chilk, Secreta
SUBJECT:
PROPOSED COMMISSION POL MJTO REDUCE ENRICRMENT AT DOMESTIC DEARCH REACTORS The Commission (with all Commissioners agreeing) has agreed that a proposed rule be developed with the following provisions:
(1)
HEU fuel unless the applicant shows that the uniqu purposes using HEUoffuel.
the project cannot be achieved without .
t (2)
At each refueling, existing research and test reactors must lowerreplace enrichment burnedthanupthe HEU fuel with fuel having appreciably original, (a) fuel technology at the time of refueling, andif that w (b) unless the license shows that the unique purposes of HEU thefuel.
project could not be achieved without using (3) Both (1) and (2) are based on Congress funding DOE to provide for university the appreciably reactors.lower enrichment and LEU fuel The rulemaking should also request comments as to what extent economic feasibility should influence (1) and (2).
State Department informed.The Office of International Programs should a You should develop the proposed rule with help from OPE and '
return it for(EDO) final Commission action.
(SECY Suspense: 8/15/83) 00 G09 8507150069 850417 PDR FOIA -
HIRSCH84-784 PDR I
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Chairman Palladino, while agreeing to have the staff begin .
development of the proposed rule, is not convinced at this time of the need for the rule. He would expect to have the i
staff brief the Commission on this matter before extensive
- efforts are expended in developing the proposed rule.
Commissioner Gilinsky adds: "The proposed rule, as described I
in this SRM, would allow research reactor owners to continue >
to fuel their reactors with highly-enriched uranium -- a nuclear explosive -- by claiming that the unique purpose of
. their project requires BEU. The SRM also states that the proposed rule should ask for comments on the economics of switching from HEU to LEU. I would like the Commission to adopt a stronger rule which would not allow any new civilian reactors to be licensed using nuclear explosive Yuel, regardless
., of the-purpose. I would also not consider economics as a
- I strong basis for allowing continued use of HEU (nuclear explosive) fuel in existing reactors.
"The Commission's lax approach is inconsistent with its policy statement on HEU, which was intended to encourage ,
research reactor ' owners abroad to use lower enrichment fuel' instead of HEU to cut down on exports of that dangerous
- nuclear explosive material. The loopholes that would allow U.S. reactors a pretext not to switch will influence owners of foreign research reactors."
! cc Chairman Palladino
< commissioner Gilinsky l Commissioner Ahearne l Commissioner Roberts
- Commissioner Asselstine -
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