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 ML20136H973 ML20136H990 ML20136H997 ML20136J013 ML20136J026 ML20136J039 ML20136J048 ML20136J065 ML20136J081
References
FOIA-85-379 NUDOCS 8508200556
Download: ML20136H947 (3)

Text

/'

UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION j'

[g f,.g W ASHIN GTON, D.C. 20555

• .t 09 March 17, 1983 4*****

g] Q C '~v.... '

m D C E $'.i.'T.... ' T

,r, OFFICE OF THE Co?.".11SSIONER IAARiII)DS3

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

/,.

'i,l.!

l'EMORA!TUM FOR:

Jesse Fbersole!

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

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

'37007 WE MN4 j

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v. v.. e. ur at. seer us sci.ms.e -sw is.no s.s n : w w cm

2. m p-cp.8.Wh s

e. ma. xs=:s eso.

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v m, e' m.m.'

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v w w c pa

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e cw.x ca. a.<, s. int

es pc w.e www s.ius. m su:m

,.,f.j. QM3

• sassas 3.oss v.w E W yt R,A dr Wr e sm u s= s s *4 bebg exploited to produc.... lear ',

h'RC has issued several export licenses.

enuc W'

• o CCot 75Md weapons. puticu!u concerns were for reduced-endch=ent uranium to be

@d $

ium (H h)'

prohferation risks associated with.

febncated into test efe=ents for fereign expressed with respect to the

- and do=esde research reactors.

3"d:$3 -

unt rie: cf HEU for rueartS asd test Assumir4 RERTR prepas success.'.

T'CIy,.y~*

riigh-Enriched Uran.

c 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 M'd nu=ber of do=este and internatonal u anium densities for use in plate type

+

u N;cM@

oc State =ent of policy 7 5 7

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

reacters will be ec=pleted by the end of'

' O S:E prol;feraton through theft c: diversion ggy n,i.ad!ation of pb.

e M-[b0 mm:ne Nucle.. Regdatory cf dis cate-ial. in contrast to HEU, the g y,.je 3y W"'y23

.ide el wi"'

5 n

~

"~ *

.=2ssien (NRC) has licensin3 use o*'hel with lower enrichments /

fpp --

tra 3 iU"

• Tpen

.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-

@M

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

=ium (HEU) and is in*erested in reduce HEU inventeries, on the into EU scale use in appropriate.

sibl> the use of HEU b dc=estic potental fc: etess to dese inventories

'" '* d' 5I. ties are also being

. g,pg c

acing.to the caxi=u= extent esst=ptien dat any reduction in the necta SWe,ide hels wth un high -

M,Q'p g 9g I foreip. research rea eters. ne SRC wodd censttute a reduction in the developed anc. tested by the RERTR gg bcsed ta note that the current U.S.

prel.feraties risk. nese concerns prept=.These Nels may be needed for y:-p.d ::

=!nistration continues to support the eventuaUy led to the establishment of comunion cf high pow n nacta g

iuced E.-ich=ent fc: Resea ch and the reduced enrich =ent for research and W;;r'@ti -

iRf rs prepa= and that to date test reacten (RERTR) propam. This As part cf the overaU RERTR

? ~-t'-M, U.S q;ress has app oved prepa.= was established to develop and prepa=. A.gonne conducts for DOE a tech.ical a.d etene=ic evakation of

$Cf

~

quate rund:ng for th:s ; cpa=. In de=enstrate the techneiegy Sat win

- connectcn. tne NRC has prepared facili ate the use of teduced. enrich =ent cach sig.ifetnt HEU expert license -

C; m following pobey statercent.

urarJum fuels b reseech and test applicateninchding the p tentialof the

$7,C FURTFE t INFoRMATioN CONT ACT:

reacle's If suCCesshd. this CCdd lead to reactor C: Conversics to reduced.

Mil[-M

.es V.Zinuner=tn. Assistant a sipitcant reduction of HEU er,ch.=ent fuel wiiin the planned L.h;u~.' 3 ect:r.Ofnce c!!nte naticnal insente-ies abroad, and Ge eby ava!!abi'it:es of app:cpriate reduced-g n-3 prt=s. U.S. Nuclea; R eplatery ine ease Se prohfera*.ico resistance of en-ich=ent Nets. Se a:ly al' potential M. i-?j. --

censersicn canidates have been MM

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

related Nel cyc!es.

1) 492-76 %

The cbject.s e of the RERTR program evahated. Techt.iial ccaversion MU.Qd R PLEW e4TaRY INF oR u aTio*C is te deselc; reseech and test reacto; scheddts art being ;!anned by reactor yay,M:';

~ !@ ;;

'n the ltWe the U.S. entered into heh which will aucw substi ution of operaters based cn de=enst:ation and

.e al short.te = aree=ents for e arju= cfIcw ere:chment (LEU. less licensabi'i'y of de Eel Eased on the fin. f;g-7 '. ' '"rjH

peration (Mo p us) cIlewing for the than 2%) fe: HEU and wh!ch wiU not technical ar.d eten =ic eukation by

ort ef resrarch reacters and Nel s's.itcant!y affect reacter perfer=ance ANI a cecedicated Executa e Branch

,J; M y M>' r M

--"----- *'cn c. et 1::ense Jer the " Atoms for pe=ce" p:q an.

cher.cierbt: s er ke; c3cie costs. On an Q

subsequcn yetn de U.S.has been a interi= bas's, se:de reacters cay utiEze a;;heatbnis doele;ed by the 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-%

jf M@@/

w IU) fer use abresd. ; Uncilv in while de 1.EU Eel develop =ent the NRC.

M tearch and test rsacters. Sh'h' reactors p cpa= is b prepess. it shodd be ne objectnes cf Ge RERTR propam oduce radioiscic;cs fc: use in such note d. hewes er. tcat no U.S. e ffort will has e been fuUy su;;c ted by NRC since as as =e dic:nt. tp-icdture. -

be =ade to devete; Nets with its incepGon.ne Cc: missien has also

. ;7.v.ed i i' 3 h-[;;%

!a!!r.ation rt secch b bio!opical, enrich =ents s!piCcantly be'.ow 20%,

ut!!!:ed A ;cn=e's ana! ses in support 3

ects cf rad.atic etc. Matenals test because of the ine:4asing =apitude of of its resiews of pic;esed interim

.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.

4-l,W.E f.4 f.

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

si4! '.y 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

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n ec.ct:.s hyan to inc case. Icwer en:ich. ant fuels. Many foreip REETR ; cpt= and that Cenpess has

a t.

. e ffcits were undertsJ cn to cou.t !es are coo;trating mth the U.S.

a;;;osed adequate fund.:g for the

_<.q,;'.,

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.

q o

~

,.u yr s.

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 G*

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

megawatts thermal (5 percent power)(n WL b>'

tested in DOE's RERTR program.

special nuclear, and byproduct materials accordance with the prodstons of the f:

h n as all the necessary tests are are abnormal occurrences.

license, the Technical SpectBeations and.

<g[g co,aeted the Co==ission is prepared This report to Congess is for the first the EnvironmentalJ$rotection Plan.

13 act expe6tiously to review the use of calendar quarter of 1982. ne report The Commission has now issued,

g g,p the new fuelin domestic research and identiSes the occurrences or events that Amendment No. 4 to Facility Operating l c.;Etu,

test reactors licensed by NRC.

the Commission determined to be Ucense No.NPF-u. which authorizes b$".:

4 With respect to future exportlicense significant and reportable; the remedial operation of the La Salle County Station.

r.m PM

[W' P cpp!! cations for HEU beareg in mind actions that were undertaken are also' Unit 1. at reactor core power levels not S

the Ccmmiss!on's responsibihty to make described. The report states that there la excess of 33:3 megawatts th'ermal 1 !

cn overall fmdinF that each export w ere four abnormal occurrences at the (t00 percent power)in accordance with M;. [. h wou d not be inimical to the common nuclear power plants licensed to the provisions of the amendedlicense.

1 defense cnd security of the U.S the operate.The firstinvolved desel.

In ad6 tion. the Ameninent makes

.'.M'M

/i CominIss;on Intcnds to continue its generator eng'ne cocling system failures. aMistratiye modifications dealing WW current practice of carek! strutiny to The second invo!ved pressu e transients with emissions, an ad6 tion and changes M'X84q4 verify that aditienalintenm LEU during shutdown. The third involved in the areas of exemption. reporting to

$MI$

uports are justified The Commission major deSciencies in management the Comm!ssion, and comp!etion date of J%$d ph.ns to continue to monitor the controls. The fourth involved a steam.

equipment qualitcation; requires...

L W ;-L progress of the RERTR propam so that -

generator tube rupture. Here were no confirmation of vacuum breakers toS D-L5F.T,4 11 can understand w hat would be abnormal occurrences for the othcr NRC withstand pool swell forces: and a M

appropriate consersion schedules, and licensees dring the report period. *Re teense con 6 tion regardingifVAC ' ~

[b93 M ta encourage that ections be taken to i$

climinate U.S..supp!ied inventories of Ageement States reported no abnormal systems with respect to operation above O.'rW*MJ occurrences to the NRC.

55 and 50% power.

IEU to the mar.imum degre e possible.

The report to Congess also contains La Salle County Statien. Unit t is a.. M(,d@

U e

.e nc Commission note s that U.S.

Informat;ca updat:ng some previously, boiling wa ter nuclear reactor located in fif4 W D research reactor operators have shown reported abnormal occurrences.

little interest in ccnverting to lower Interested pen cas may review the Brookf eld Township. La Salle County.

ME

• Iib'h 111inols, ne amendment is effective as enrichment fael. As part of a policy to report at the NRC's Publ.c Document '

of the date ofissuance.

ds8M-Mf' strong!y encourage conversion by,

D C. or at any of the nuc' ear power plant complies with the standards and

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

ne application for the amendment T3Y5 take steps 8 to encourate similar acton Local Pub' e Document Rooms J

by US ttscarch reactor operators.

throughout the country. S:ngle copies of requirements of the Atomic Ene gy Act I/[. E".v.)q

~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 -

C Aj Vol. 5, No.1. may be purchased from the Coct.ission's regulations The WdrM 95c.

Nat onal TechnicalIr. formation Sersica, Co:ntnission has made appropriate' *

$~NM 4..

e cora=ission.

sa mv.! l. Chill.

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

findings a: required by the Act and the 9.I.c r,8 $y Wef Secreeryoft2e Commission A ) ear's subscription to the NUREC-Cernmiss!on's regulations in 10 CFR

.h p o, c.:r i rue sm aa.s.e D33 series publication which consists Chapter L which are set forth in the Tdi M M'l T~

,,w.,3 eg,c,,,3 of four iss.es,is available from the amen ed license. Prior pubbe notice of~ D NRC.GPO Sales Program. Division of the c verall action intohing the f.hk.Y/WJ}

proposed issuance of an o{e Federal erating TechrJealin'crmation a:d Document ljcense w as published in tL AbnorrnalOccurrence Repo t; Section Control U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

.W th* W ' -

(M rb M 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 I j [ M*.ih I f i

Notice i. hareby given that pursuant M.ctc. Sche of sin {s!c copies of the autorized b this Arnendmentis

pr*i-to the regulrrments of Secticn 08 of the pdca' cn are a. o avaHable from this J

r

'M N.n~ '.'y encor passe by that prior public notice.

Energv Rect;anization Act of 1974, as source.

Prier public notice of the af.:nir.lstrative amended. the Nudear Rerutatory Cated at wachteren. D c. this to b day of changes audo-ized by tNs Amendment f.Q',y.M'fj r.

Commission (NRCJ has pub!:shed and Ac;ust 1952.

was tot tvguired since these changes do 3 ag;i,A issued the re-icdic repe-t to Cong ess For th Nudur %te'e y Cee-Jss!c:.

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

. :W -~~,G.d Under the Energy Recrgnbation Act s,cretcry of g, commi,,fon.

The Commjsslo:: has determined that

., %"3; gg 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

. * ;w, unschedule d incident or event which the ircpacts other than those es ah:ated in

. <3 r.?

the Final Environmental Statement, its

$y l.

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

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

wal*h cr safety. The NRC has made a. Commonwea!th Edison Co.t Issuance

40) ear license fremissuance of this

W. %'

r Cd, fcter...:ation.'ba sed on critens of Arnendrnent to F.wility Operating amendment since the actnity authorized 4 W ?' Ml+=

Jub!ish. d in the Fcdcral Rc;;hter (42 FR LIC'AS*

by the license is enco:npassed by the os etall aetion evaluated in the Fmal

'di WE'l'

.OG)on February 24.1977 that events On April 17.1932, the U.S. Nucleat E.vironmental Sta tement. its it.EJMI.

nvching en actualloss or Cgnificant Regulatery Ccramission (the Addendant. and assessmeat oflicense

?.ii.7;.;c.;i Commist:en) issued Facility Operating duration. Forther. with respect to the

• f /Q'y) i

'r.,-

., N.a n refe ehe b th e%e License No. NPF-11. to Commonwealth administrative changes in the

~;

g ue r.ea.e. c i.J hr 4 seusied Edison Company (lirensee) authorizing Arne,dnent, the Commission has Y. :.T - f'.

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

.. dJ;.,

.m.n 161:m:u e x Urdt 1 (the facility). at reactor core A:nendment will not terutt in any

g. -U.g c.:V.,.i.

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