ML20148H065
| ML20148H065 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/09/1987 |
| From: | Portner L NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Rehm NRC |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8803290302 | |
| Download: ML20148H065 (7) | |
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DUEa 03/09/07 EDO CONTROLS 002580_
DOC UT 03/03/87 LINDA PORTNER FINAL RFPLYs CHAIRMAN ZECH'S OFFICE TO:
RE}M FOR SIGNATURE OFs
- PRIORITY *He SFCY NO:
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ROUTING:
ADDITIONAL BACKUP QUESTIONS FOR BEVILL HEARINCG STELLO 3/19/87 ROE RElm DATE: 03/04/87 SNIEZEK ASSIGNED TO: ADM CONTACT: NORRY OCA ASSIGNED TO: RES CONTACT: BECKJORD '
HURRAY ASSIGNED TOs SDBU CONTACTa KERR ASSIGMED TO: >RR CONTACT: DENTON ASSIGNED tot IP CONTACTt SHEA ASSIGNED TO: RM CONTACTS SCROGGING ASSIGNED TO: OFFICE OF SPECIAL PROJECTS CONTACT: KEPPLER ASSIGNED TO: CONSOLIDATION TEAM CONTACT: M0KT60ERY SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR'REMARKSt l'
SEND VIA 5520 IN Q&A FORMAT.
l-REF. EDO 2456 & 2574 l
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a-BACKUP 0. 40.
Does the Comission interpret the ban on importing uranium from South Africa to extend beyond uranium oxide to manufactured forms such as uranium hexafluoride?
- ANSWER, s.
The Comission is still awaiting receipt of the Executive Branch's views on the scope of the South African uranium import ban and has not yet made its own formal determination on th,is matter.
However, the NRC staff's preliminary view is that the ban does not include uranium hexafluoride.
.4.i.
i SC 4 E60 Sft BACKUP Q. 77.
What is the status of the eleven (11) import licenses previously issued, which could be used as authority to import South African origin uranium?
ANSWER.
The Commission continues to review the status of these licenses.
In the interim, the NRC staff has written to each of the licensees and requested them not to use their licenses to import any South African material pending completion of NRC's review and to advise NRC if they foresee any imminent need to use their licenses. The licensees appear to be cooperating with this request. As a related matter, NRC has received a formal petition from certain members of Congress and other persons to revoke the existing licenses insofar as they would permit the import of South African material.
The Commission will address this petition in the context of its ongoing review of the existing licenses.
,* a.
IE 71.
Description of Training Academy and key issues related to it.
NMSS 72.
Assuming no high level waste repository disposal, does the fact that the-DOE proposes to have a Monitored Retrieval Storage (MRS) facility operational by 1998 satisfy the Commission waste competence decision?
NMSS 73. How much of a HLW repository schedule slippage would need to accrue befo' the NRC waste confidence decision would be affected? What would NRC the' do?
NHSS 74.
Should the HLW depository be delayed indefinitely? Has the NRC considered and/will prepare a risk analysis for indefinite use of a MRS or dry cask storage?
IP 75.
Can all S. African origin uranium be identified via shipping documentation?
IP 76.
Has the NRC received any S. African origin uranium import license application since 12/31/86?
IP
- 77. What is the status of the eleven general import licenses previously issued which could be used as authority to import S. African origin uranium?
NMSS 78. What is the status of NRC activities with regard to the Riverton, WY title one mile tailing sites?
NMSS 79.
Is the NRC supportive of current plans to stabilize the site?
,1 a, J. Taylor, IE J. Shea, IP D. Mausshardt, NMSS Backup Book Questions for the Chairman, short, one-pagers.
Responses due to ED0 NOON Wednesday 2/11/87.
T. A. Rehm
r QUESTION 75; Can all South African origin uranium be identified via shipping documentation?
ANSWER.
No.
It is not always possible to determine, from the shipping documentation, the country of origin for uranium imports.
Most uranium imports into the U.S.
are handled by brokers, shipping agents and transportation firms.
These firms prepare the shipping documents and act as the importer of record.
They are rarely the purchasers of the uranium, seldam take possession of the material and are not the end users.
They prepare the shipping documents based upon information provided by the purchasers / owners, by the suppliers, or by other parties.
Since the international uranium market involves complicated transactions, including short and long term supply contracts, opportunistic spot purchases, transfers, conversion, enrichment, fabrication, blending renrocessing and long-term storage, it is not possible to guarantee that shipping documents will identify t,he country of origin of uranium.
Despite these difficulties concerning shipment documents, U.S. regulations require that every holder of3ur.anium assign a country of origin to their material and report this information in every receipt or shipment.
The staff notes that all NRC import licensees and ultimate receivers of imported uranium are very diligent in their attempts to correctly identify the country of origin for all uranium before it is imported into the U.S.
For the reasons cited above, however, accurate country of origin designation is not always possible.
3 QUESTION 76.
Has the NRC received any South African origin uranium import license applications since December 12, 1986?
ANSWER.
L As of f&betary 11, 1987, three companies have filed a to.tal of eight applicatior; for the import of South African origin' uranium.
These applications have ',*ee5 forwarded to the Executive Branch where they remain under review.
Details of 'he applications are as follows:
Craur^ot.h Transport, USA:
1.
500,M0 kgs natural U as U 03 8 ',tr processing (conversion and enrichment)-
a # re-export 2-1,0fr2,000 kgs irqy al V as UF6 for domestic and foreign use 3.
Ud,000 kgs LEU as 07 for domestic and foreign use 6
4.
40,000 kgs LEU as UF for fuel fabrication and reexport to West Germany.
6
'hxon Nuclear CcApany:
1.
167,732 kgs ;EU c UF for fuel fabrication and reexport to West Germany 6
Edlow International-
.* a.
foi processing (conversion and enrichment) 1.
500,000 kr,' natnral v 85 'l 03g and re-exscrt t3 Eurato.7i, Japan,'?o1wi.n or Korea.
2.
500,000 kgs natural U as UF fos enrkh' nest dra u:e bi the U.S. sad q
0 reexpert I.o Leatom, slacar,, Tiit:6.:, or La ea, 3.
500,000 kgs tr) as UF for tue' fe rica'.iin and use in th!, U.S. and 4
reexport to Euratom, Japan, Taiwal or Kt'rea.
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QUESTION 77.
What is the status of the eleven import licenses previously issued which could be used as authority to import South African origin uranium, ANSWER.
t Eleven unexpired licenses for the import of source and special nuclear materials were issued prior to January 1985 under which South African origin uranium could enter the U.S.
These licenses have expiration dates ranging from October 1987 to December 1992. The December 31, 1986 revision to the NRC general licensing authority requiring specific licensing for the import of South African origin uranium did not directly affect these outstanding licenses. The NRC has taken no formal action to withdraw or amend the existing licenses with respect to the import of South African origin uranium.
The Conmission expects to make a decision ors this matter after receipt of formal Executive Branch views on the scope of the South African uranium import ban.
In the interim, the NRC staff has written to each licensee holding an outstanding license and rsqu$sted that no import of South African origin uranium be undertaken against the licenses per: ding completion of the Commission's review. At this time the staff is not aware of any intention by the licensees to import any South African origin uranium under their existing licenses.
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