ML20136H947

Forwards Policy Statement Aimed at Reducing Enrichment of Foreign Research Reactors & Ofc of Policy Evaluation Response Re Steps to Apply Same Pressure to Us Reactor Owners

ML20136H947
Person / Time
Issue date:	03/17/1983
From:	Ahearne J NRC COMMISSION (OCM)
To:	Ebersole J Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards
Shared Package
ML20136H905	List: ML20136H900 ML20136H927 ML20136H938 ML20136H947 ML20136H967 ML20136J013 ML20136J026 ML20136J039 ML20136J048 ML20136J081
References
FOIA-85-379 NUDOCS 8508200556
Download: ML20136H947 (3)

Text

UNITED STATES

/'

j' [g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

• .t W ASHIN GTON, D.C. 20555 f ,.g ,

09

• March 17, 1983

$ g] Q C m 4*****  ;,: , ; . ,-

'~v.. '.. .,

OFFICE OF THE D C E $'.i .'T. . ... ' T *

,r, Co?.".11SSIONER IAARiII)DS3

'MO.31:p,1: ;3&

l'EMORA!TUM FOR: Jesse Fbersole!

/, . ,l.!

'i Acting CFaiin.a , 6CES -

\ 'l FROM: John Ahci rne - l Mu%

SUBJECT:

REDUCIllG Et:PICHMENT U

The Ctr.nission pt b'ished a policy staterent aimed at rec'ucing the enrichtent of fcrcign rescarch reactort. ( Attachrcnt 1). I asked CI'E to exmirie what nieps would be approprW.e to apply the same preiture to U.S. reactor cwr.ers (Attacht ent 2). OPE'siccponseis6ttached(Attechnent3).

I t.culd apprreiate ACRS's views on this report.

A ttacht .cr.t s a/s cc: Chairman Palladino OPE I

8508200556 850727 PDR FOIA AFTERCOOS-379 PDR

WE Eders! R:gistir / Vd. 47 No.164 / Tu sday Aiigust 24. '1982.1 N:tices '37007 MN4 j

. . . FEOEAAa REDsita (Ex*cRT/lufoRT)--Contitived

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• sassas 3.oss EW Wr yt R,A dr h'RC has issued several export licenses.

$':% W' '

bebg exploited to produc. enuc . . . lear ', ,

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• o CCot 75Md -

weapons. puticu!u concerns were for reduced-endch=ent uranium to be expressed with respect to the febncated into test efe=ents for fereign @d 3"d:$3 -

prohferation risks associated with . - and do=esde research reactors.

riigh-Enriched Uran.ium (H c h)' unt rie: cf HEU for rueartS asd test Assumir4 RERTR prepas success.' . T'CIy,.y~*

k reh Rnctors; Foficy Stateme'nt reacters abroad. ne w.sespread use cf most of the performtsce testing of LEU ~ M-:= -

wcy:US.' Nuc'len Re'gu'atory HEU fuel. which involved a large, ., . alu=Inide and ex.ide fuels with highN M#LM u +

oc State =ent of policy 7 5 7 nu=ber of do=este and internatonal

. fuel shi; nents,inc etses the risks of --

u anium densities for use in plate type reacters will be ec=pleted by the end of'

' M'd N;cM@

prol;feraton through theft c: diversion ggy n,i.ad!ation of pb. e .

O S:E g y,.je 3y .ide 5el wi"'

M-[b0 mm:ne Nucle.. nRegdatory cf dis cate-ial. in contrast to HEU, the "~ *

.=2ssien (NRC) has licensin3

~

use o*'hel with lower enrichments , - / tra 3

iU" *Tpe n W"'y23 fpp --

.onsibility for doceste use and for reduces p o!iferation risks. E ssibly plate ype, reactors win be ort cbroad of Special Nuclear In an effort to a!!ay concerns of -

e =p,.eted in 19'.3. Assu=ing beensing  ;@_. c-

'erial. including H E b. Enriched preliferaSen risks. efferts were made to approvals, one fuels could een en'u

=ium (HEU) and is in*erested in acing.to the caxi=u= extent reduce HEU inventeries, on the esst=ptien dat any reduction in the into EU scale use in appropriate .

necta SWe,ide hels wth un high -

@M g,pg c sibl> the use of HEU b dc=estic potental fc: etess to dese inventories 9g

'" '* d' 5I. ties are also being I foreip. research rea eters. ne SRC wodd censttute a reduction in the developed anc. tested by the RERTR M,Q'p gg g bcsed ta note that the current U.S.

=!nistration continues to support the prel.feraties risk. nese concerns eventuaUy led to the establishment of prept=.These Nels may be needed for y:-p.d ::

comunion cf high pow n nacta g iuced E .-ich=ent fc: Resea ch and the reduced enrich =ent for research and -

As part cf the overaU RERTR W;;r'@ti

? ~-t'-M, -

iRf rs prepa= and that to date test reacten (RERTR) propam. This q;ress has app oved prepa=. A.gonne conducts for DOE a .-

U.S prepa.= was established to develop and

quate rund:ng for th:s ; cpa=. In de=enstrate the techneiegy Sat win tech .ical a .d etene=ic evakation of

~

$Cf C; m

- connectcn. tne NRC has prepared cach sig.ifetnt HEU expert license -

facili ate the use of teduced. enrich =ent $7,C following pobey statercent. urarJum fuels b reseech and test applicateninchding the p tentialof the FURTFE t INFoRMATioN CONT ACT: reacle's If suCCesshd. this CCdd lead to reactor C: Conversics to reduced . , Mil[-M L.h;u~.' 3 a sipitcant reduction of HEU er,ch.=ent fuel wiiin the planned ,

.es V.Zinuner=tn. Assistant ava!!abi'it:es of app:cpriate reduced- g n-3 ect:r.Ofnce c!!nte naticnal insente-ies abroad, and Ge eby en-ich=ent Nets. Se a:ly al' potential M. i-?j. --

prt=s. U.S. Nuclea; R eplatery

==ls sion. Wa shin; ton. DC :0155.

ine ease Se related Nel cyc!es.

prohfera*.ico resistance of censersicn canidates have been MM

1) 492-76 % The cbject.s e of the RERTR program evahated. Techt.iial ccaversion MU.Qd scheddts art being ;!anned by reactor R PLEW e4TaRY INF oR u aTio*C is te deselc; reseech and test reacto; operaters based cn de=enst:ation and yay,M:';

~ !@ ;;

'n the ltWe the U.S. entered into heh which will aucw substi ution of e arju= cfIcw ere:chment (LEU. less licensabi'i'y of de Eel Eased on the fin. f;g-

.e al short.te = aree=ents for technical ar.d eten =ic eukation by 7 '. ' '"rjH

peration (Mo p us) cIlewing for the than 2%) fe: HEU and wh!ch wiU not

ort ef resrarch reacters and Nel s's .itcant!y affect reacter perfer=ance ANI a cecedicated Executa e Branch ,J; M y cher.cierbt

s er ke; c3cie costs. On an --"----- *'cn c. et 1::ense Jer the " Atoms for pe=ce" p:q an.

interi= bas's, se:de reacters cay utiEze a;;heatbnis doele;ed by the M>' rQ M subsequcn yetn de U.S.has been a ict su;; lie: cf h!;h cr;ched traniu= inte =ediate erzich=ent fuc!s (45). Depart =ent of State and is sub=itted to K-% w jf while de 1.EU Eel develop =ent the NRC.

IU) fer use abresd. ; Uncilv in tearch and test rsacters. Sh'h' reactors p cpa= is b prepess. it shodd be ne objectnes cf Ge RERTR propam has e been fuUy su;;c ted by NRC since M@@/

M oduce radioiscic;cs fc: use in such note d. hewes er. tcat no U.S. e ffort will as as =e dic:nt. tp-icdture. - be =ade to devete; Nets with its incepGon.ne Cc: missien has also . ;7.v.ed ut!!!:ed A ;cn=e's ana! 3ses in support i i' 3

!a!!r.ation rt secch b bio!opical, ects cf rad.atic etc. Matenals test enrich =ents s!piCcantly be'.ow 20%,

because of the ine:4asing =apitude of of its resiews of pic;esed interim h-[;;%

.cters a:e sho used to tra!n future -!uterJu= p:oductier, b fueis with s ery e>pcits of HEU. part.cu!nly with Wiy;3p craten of cc==e cial pewc reactors Icw c: no enrich =ent. res;ect to dete:r.i.-Jng the dates when ';/m c-J d to test r.ew rnateials and fuels. To date. DOE has Initiated a cens ersien to !ow c:.er.riched hels can + : MD .$

'n de r.id 17 C's.;artieda:ly de.cle;=ent and test propain reanaged be anticipated.He Co==ission is ' 'i.7.-M.

.:cwing b6a's de:c .atica cf a nuclear by the Argo..ne NationalLaberatory picased te note that de cu rent f .4 f.

p!csh e device in 2074, nuclear (ANL) te ;;cte the feasibib*y of the new Ad-J .!stration cen* int.es tb support the :si4! ' .y 4-l,W.E REETR ; cpt= and that Cenpess has ';' g

• j. :n ec .ct: .s hyan to inc case. Icwer en:ich . ant fuels. Many foreip cou.t !es are coo;trating mth the U.S. a;;;osed adequate fund.:g for the  ;

_<.q ,;'.,

a t. . e ffcits were undertsJ cn to 7.ri/E;K

. s tni n.ek a: 7:a e p:c; a=s f:o:n 1. this effort. and. within the past > ea.r. p:c;a:r.

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. , . yr 7008 T;d:rcl R; gist:r / V 1. 47. N2.164 / Tu;sday. August 24, 1982 / Nitices . Y.g 4 N I.h The Commission niso notes that reduction in the depee of protection ' power levels not in excess of tes '

vercl types of LEU feel a e currently against radioactive properties of source. G*

b>' tested in DOE's RERTR program. megawatts thermal special nuclear, and byproduct materials accordance with the prodstons of the (5 percent power)(n WL.

f:

h n as all the necessary tests are .

co ,aeted the Co==ission is prepared are abnormal occurrences.

This report to Congess is for the first license, the Technical SpectBeations and .

the EnvironmentalJ$rotection Plan.

<g[g g g,p 13 act expe6tiously to review the use of calendar quarter of 1982. ne report The Commission has now issued , l c.;Etu ,

the new fuelin domestic research and identiSes the occurrences or events that test reactors licensed by NRC. Amendment No. 4 to Facility Operating 4 the Commission determined to be With respect to future exportlicense significant and reportable; the remedial Ucense No.NPF-u. which authorizes b$" .: r.m

, PM cpp!! cations for HEU beareg in mind operation of the La Salle County Station.

actions that were undertaken are also' Unit 1. at reactor core power levels not the Ccmmiss!on's responsibihty to make described. The report states that there cn overall fmdinF that each export w ere four abnormal occurrences at the la excess of 33:3 megawatts th'ermal (t00 percent power)in accordance with S

1 ! [W' P) wou 1d not be inimical to the common nuclear power plants licensed to defense cnd security of the U.S the the provisions of the amendedlicense. M;. [./ih operate.The firstinvolved desel.

CominIss;on Intcnds to continue its In ad6 tion. the Ameninent makes .'.M'M current practice of carek! strutiny to verify that aditienalintenm LEU generator eng'ne cocling system failures. aMistratiye modifications dealing The second invo!ved pressu e transients with emissions, an ad6 tion and changes WW M'X84q4 during shutdown. The third involved uports are justified The Commission major deSciencies in management in the areas of exemption. reporting to $MI$

ph.ns to continue to monitor the progress of the RERTR propam so that -

controls. The fourth involved a steam .

generator tube rupture. Here were no the Comm!ssion, and comp!etion date of equipment qualitcation; requires . .. J%$d L W ;-L 11 can understand w hat would be confirmation of vacuum breakers toS D-L5F.T,4 appropriate consersion schedules, and abnormal occurrences for the othcr NRC withstand pool swell forces: and a .. M licensees dring the report period. *Re ta encourage that ections be taken to climinate U.S..supp!ied inventories of Ageement States reported no abnormal teense con 6 tion regardingifVAC ' ~

systems with respect to operation above

[b93i$M occurrences to the NRC.

• IEU to the mar.imum degre e possible. The report to Congess also contains 55 and 50% power. e .e , O.'rW*MJ U nc Commission note s that U.S. La Salle County Statien. Unit t is a. . M(,d@

research reactor operators have shown Informat;ca updat:ng some previously, reported abnormal occurrences. boiling wa ter nuclear reactor located in fif4 W D little interest in ccnverting to lower Brookf eld Township. La Salle County.

Interested pen cas may review the 111inols, ne amendment is effective as enrichment fael. As part of a policy to report at the NRC's Publ.c Document ' ME

• Iib'h strong!y encourage conversion by ,

f; reign operatcrs the Cc nmission wtll Room.1717 H Street. NW, Washington -

of the date ofissuance.

ne application for the amendment ds8M-Mf' T3Y5 D C. or at any of the nuc' ear power plant complies with the standards and take steps 8 to encourate similar acton by US ttscarch reactor operators. Local Pub'Je Document Rooms .D throughout the country. S:ngle copies of requirements of the Atomic Ene gy Act ~W" D- 4t Wash!rron. D C th!s trth day of the toport designated NUREC-0090. of 19*A, as amended (the Act), and 156 - I/[. E".v.)q C Aj 95c.

4.. e cora=ission.

Vol. 5, No.1. may be purchased from the Coct .ission's regulations The Nat onal TechnicalIr. formation Sersica, Co:ntnission has made appropriate'

• WdrM

$~NM sa mv.! l. Chill.

Secreeryoft2e Commission S;nn;f. eld. Virginia 2:161. ..

A ) ear's subscription to the NUREC-findings a: required by the Act and the Cernmiss!on's regulations in 10 CFR Wef 9.I.c r,8 $y .h Chapter L which are set forth in the Tdi M p o, c.:r i rue sm aa.s .e D33 series publication which consists

,,w.,3 eg,c ,,,3 . of four iss.es,is available from the M'l T~

NRC.GPO Sales Program. Division of amen the edaction c verall license.

intohing Priorthe pubbe notice of~ DU erating AbnorrnalOccurrence Repo t; Section TechrJealin'crmation a:d Document Control U.S. Nuclear Regulatory proposed issuance ljcense w as published in tLof an o{e Federal f.hk.Y/WJ}

.W th* W ' -

20L Report Submitted To the Congress Commis s kt. Wa shngtoc. D.C. 2a555.

Register on June 9.1977 (42 FR 29576-

• 29577). T1.e increase in pow er level (M rb M I

Notice i. hareby given that pursuant I fj [ M*.ih i

to the regulrrments of Secticn 08 of the pdca' M.ctc.cn JSche are a.ofosin {s!c copies avaHable of the autorized b this Arnendmentis from this r Energv Rect;anization Act of 1974, as source. encor passe by that prior public notice. :pr*i-amended. the Nudear Rerutatory Prier public notice of the af.:nir.lstrative 'M.

N.n~ 'r..'y Commission (NRCJ has pub!:shed and Cated at wachteren. D c. this to b day of Ac;ust 1952.

changes audo-ized by tNs Amendment f.Q',y.M'fj issued the re-icdic repe-t to Cong ess For th Nudur %te'e y Cee-Jss!c:. was tot tvguired since these changes do 3 ag;i,A cc:Irwoh e a significant hazards on isbne rna! occuritnces (NUREG-On93, sa rm.el l. Chilk. consideratien. 4 g.*7g'.9,i Vol. 5. No.1). Y .c. < ;6 s,cretcry of g, commi,,fon. The Commjsslo:: has determined that Under the Energy Recrgnbation Act . :W -~~,G.d of 1974, which creattd the NRC, an  % y , u m , ,, ,4 the issuance of this ame .dment will not  ;

abncrmal occu rence is defined as *'an m co3,, % ,. result in ray sig-J'icant endonmental .,.,%"3; . * ;w,gg ircpacts other than those es ah:ated in . <3 r.?

unschedule d incident or event which the

$y l.

the Final Environmental Statement, its

'c: . r'trion (NR C) deter =lnes is (Doch et No. 5*,-3M) i

!rn.facant from the standpcint cf public Adderdum, and atsessment of the effect Mh[f T,$,'.M '

wal*h cr safety. The NRC has made a . Commonwea!th Edison Co.t Issuance 40) ear license fremissuance of this W . %'

fcter.. .:ation.'ba sed on critens of Arnendrnent to F.wility Operating amendment since the actnity authorized r Cd, Jub!ish. d in the Fcdcral Rc;;hter (42 FR

. LIC'AS* by the license is enco:npassed by the 4 W ?' Ml+=

.OG)on February 24.1977 that events On April 17.1932, the U.S. Nucleat os etall aetion evaluated in the Fmal 'di WE'l' nvching en actualloss or Cgnificant E .vironmental Sta tement. its it.EJMI.

Regulatery Ccramission (the Commist:en) issued Facility Operating Addendant. and assessmeat oflicense  ?.ii.7;.;c.;i

'r.,- ., N .a n refe ehe b th e%e duration. Forther. with respect to the g ue r.ea.e . c i.J hr 4 seusied License No. NPF-11. to Commonwealth administrative changes in the *~;f i/Q'y)

Edison Company (lirensee) authorizing Arne ,dnent, the Commission has N a, .N,N.N.Ie'2[cle ce$se of cperation of the'La Sa!!e County Station, determine d that the issuance of this Y.:.T - f'.

.m.n 161:m:u e x Urdt 1 (the facility). at reactor core . . dJ;. ,

A:nendment will not terutt in any g. -U.g c.:V. , .i .

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