ML20138D414
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2 GAY 2 01933 o
MEMORANDUM FOR:
Karl Goller, Director Division of Facility Opr ations Office of Research FROM:
Robert F. Burnett, Director Division of Safeguards Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
SUBJECT:
REQUEST FOR EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION 0F SABOTAGE SOURCE TERM FOR SHIPMENTS OF SPENT FUEL FROM GAS-COOLED POWER REACTORS AND NONPOWER REACTORS Our present rulemaking effort that modifies the protection requirements for shipments of spent fuel has been based on the characteristics of spent fuel from light-water power reactors. This approach was used because it is believed that successful sabotage of spent fuel from that class of reactor would set the upper limit of consequence from shipment sabotage. We expect to issue a proposed rule for public comment later this year. We now think it prudent to extend our program to explicitly address shipments of spent fuel G
from gas-cooled power reactors and from nonpower reactors because we expect I\\")
that there will be a need to respond to public coment on these shipments.
The curie content in such shipments is different from, and likely substan-tially lower than that in shipments of light-water power reactor fuel.
However there is essentially so published comprehensive infomation on the possible consequences of sabotage of shipments of spent fuel in these two remaining categories.
To provide a technical basis for response to anticipated public connents, I request that the Office of Research carry out a program for experimental quan-tification of the source tem likely to result from sabotage of spent fuel shipaents from gas' cooled power reactors and from representative nonpower reactors. The program could be an extension of or patterned after the existing research project " Shipping Cask Sabotage Source Tem Investigation".
The program probably should include the following elements:
c 1.
Obtain from the literature or otherwise detemine the kinds and quantities of biologically significant radionuclides contained, in shipments of spent fuel from gas-cooled power reactors.
l 2.
For the four major types of nonpower reactors, AGN, TRIGA, pool and tank, determine which type produces the kinds and quantities of radionuclides that would be most significant biologically if released through sabotage of a shipment.
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Obtain samples of spent fuel from the selected type of nonpower reactor and representative samples of spent fuel from a gas-cooled power reactor.
4.
Carry out expei-iments using small-scale explosives against simulated casks containing samples of the spent fuel.
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5.
Analyze the^ material released to determine the respirable fraction.
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- 6.. Scale the results upward to take into account the effect of full-scale explosives and full-scale loaded casks.
i We would like to.see the program scheduled so that the results woul,d be avail-able within eight months.
I have asked Carl Sawyer (ext. 74186) to act as the SG technical representative in this matter and to provide whatever detailed information you may require in considering this request.
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/(j Robert F. Burnett, Director Division of Safeguards, HMSS f!
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