ML20148J653

Requests Executive Branch Views Re Whether Export of Pu & Neptunium to Euratom for US-EURATOM Collaborative Research Meets Applicable Criteria in Atomic Energy Act of 1954. Application for License Encl

ML20148J653
Person / Time
Issue date:	03/23/1988
From:	Peterson M NRC OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL & PUBLIC AFFAIRS (GPA)
To:	Thorne C ENERGY, DEPT. OF
References
NUDOCS 8803300335
Download: ML20148J653 (1)

Text

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+ Ig i UNITED STATES y 3 s- g NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 5- ,

j W ASHINGTON, D. C. 20555

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M 2 3 1988 Mr. Carlton E. Thorne. Director Office of Nuclear Export and Import Control Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs U.S. Department of State Washington, D.C.

20520

Dear Mr. Thorne:

Enclosed please find a request from the Department of Energy to export plutonium and neptunium to EURATOM for the purpose of U.S.-EURATOM collaborative research.

Before taking action on this request, we would appreciate your views, in accordance with established precedures and from the overall perspective of the Executive Branch, as to whether the proposed export meets the applicable

. criteria in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 as amended by the Nuclear Nonproliferation Act of 1978.

Sincerely.

h m

8arvin R'." Pe' terson, Assistant Director for International Security Office of Governmental and Public Affairs

Enclosure:

Appl. dtd 3/14/88 (XSNM02377-EURATOM) cc w/ enclosure:

T. Hart, DOE G. Bray, ADCA G. Oplinger, D0D N. Martin, DOE R. DeleBarre, DOS i

eso33co335 Geo323 h4M b-

. ) U.S. NUCLEAR REGUL,eTORY COMMCSION NRC F0HM 7 APPROVED BY OMB 11 2 /,1) = 3150 0027 1hcFn110 APPLICATION FOR LICENSE TO EXPORT NUCLEAR EXPIRES 12 31 87 MATERIAL AND EGUlPMENT (seeInstructions on Reverse) 2.NRC a. DOC KET NO. b. LtCEN;,E NO.

1. uSc APPLIC ANT'S (s. D O c.F APPLIC ATIONh. APPLIC ANT'SuSE REFERENCE //Ob Vo FR

" March 14. 198}8 XSN 4 o SSM

3. APPLICANT'S NAME AND ADDRESS l RIS 4. SUPPLIER'S NAME AND ADDRESS (Complete if gpphunt og Ict suppl er of motersal)

(M Theodore A. Hart __

b. STREET ADDRESS ..NAME U.s. nnnnv+mone M provmr

c. CIT V STAit Z:PCODE b. STREET ADDRESS Washincton . nr ?nsAs

a. T E LEPHON E NJMBE R (Area Coce - Number - istensson) c. cit Y STATE ZIP CODE 202/586-6185

5. FIRST SHIPEENT 76. FIN AL SHIPMENT 7. APPLICANT'S CONTRACTUAL 8. PROPOSED LICENSE G. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SCHE CUL ED SCHEDULED DELIVERY DATE EXPIRATION DATE CONTR ACT NO. ft/ Kacac1 May 1988 Mav 1990 N/A Mny loon

[ h0. UL11 MATE CON'.WNEE l Ra$ 11. ULTIMATE END USE l' '

e.NAME I'""## O'*"' " Y "***l Various laboratories within the

b. STREET ADDRESS gee Attachment ti Euratom Commulity_ -;

c. CIT Y - ST ATE - COUNT RY .

'1 114. EST. DATE OF FIRST USE

12. INTERMEDIATE CONSIGNEE l Rt$ 13. INTERMEDIATE END USE l " '7' s.NAME 1 European Institute for Transernnium

b. STREET ADDRESS See Attachment Elements

c. CIT) - STATE - C OUNTRY Karlsruhe. Federn1 Rn nnh 1 i e- nf rown n 43a EST. DATE OF FIRST USE

14. INTERMEDI ATE CONSIGNEE ' l RIS i5. INTERMEDI ATE END USE l - **

Nwe

b. STRE E T ADDRESS

c. CITY - ST ATE - COUNTRY 15a. EST. DATE OF FIRST USE

16. 17. DESCRIPTION 18. MAX. ELEMENT 19. M AX. 20. MAX 21.

NRC incluce chemical end physicaf form of nuclear msterist. vve collar valve of WElGHT WT.% ISOTOPE WT. UNIT USE ylear ocurome,t and componentsL-Plutonium-239 200 grams Neptunium 737 200 grams

22. COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.- l 23. COUNTRY OF ORIGINr$NM l l 24. COUNTRIES WHICH ATTACH l"' j SOURCE MATERI AL WHERE ENRICHED OR PRODUCED SAFEGUARDS (if Known)

U.S.A. U,s,A,

25. ADDITION AL INFORMATION (use separate sheet s/neceswy/

See attachment-material to be returned te U.S. af ter completion caf expsriments 2s. t w. .ppi,e.ni e.rtif. inai in,i ppi. cation is p, .o in conf ormity with Titi.10. Code of F.derei R.,uiations and that sii intormetron in this

.ps. cat.on correct to the b.si of h.3/her kno. .., ,

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b. TITLE Of fice of Nuclear

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27. AUTHOR 12ED OFFICIAL ,

P. . .

,' Nonoroliferation Poliev Y r Y D' && _ _ _

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9 USG DOE MEMORANDUM Date: March 4. 1988 Reply: DP-332.2

Subject:

Plutonium & Neptunium Loan To: Distribution Two weeks ago we discussed a proposal for DOE to loan about 200 grams each of Pu and Np to scientists in Germany so that we could conduct collaborative research with them. The DOE laboratories are LLNL and LANL, with the former being most heavily involsed.

Attached is an updated version of the draft proposal. If other people need to see it in order for the loan to take place, please -

provide them with a copy. I will be out of the country for the next two ennths, approximately, and unable to do any further coordination on this. The principal investigator for LLNL is Dr. Carlos Colmenares.

He is a member of the Chemistry and Materials Science Department and say be reached at FTS: 532-6352. 4 ,3 , 7 3. 7 _ , , o a f ,, g _

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MW R. 6. Hickman LLNL/ISA/ DOE Distribution:

Don Eaon DP-342 l Al Evans DP-225 Ted Hart IE-13 Nataly Martin DP-332 l C. Colmenares LLNL L-357 V.A. Mode LLNL L-353 l

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, svaveva.fe.e.essea DRAFIIl42V 3/02/88

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i. Proposed Protocol for the Rapid Exchange of 1

Radioactive Sar..ples Between U.S. National ,

, Laboratories and The Joint Research Centers',of the

Commission of the European Communities  ;

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237

.If.SpecificProposaltoShipa239 Pu and Np i

from the Lawrence Livermore National Labora. tory (LLNL) to the European Institute for Transu',ranium i

j Elements (EITE).

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FROM UC Lt H L 410 433 4946 (UED)83.03.'88 all33 H0.19 PAGE S DRAFT 1142V 3/0 /88

' i Sumarv He arel proposing that the USD0E and other governmental agencies concerned develop a' general protocol to allow for an easy and fast; exchange of radioactigesamples(accountablematerial)betweenUSNationalLaboratories and The Joint Research Centers of the Comission of the Iuropean Comunities.

The role olf the laboratories and the mechanism for sample exchange and I

accountab lity is defined, as well as the review of propbsals for scientific content.

He are also proposing the transfer of ~200g each of a-Pu and Np, under theaegislofthenewprotocols,fromLLNLtoEITE. The scientific projects to utklizetieseelementsarealsodefined, l

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FROM UC L'LHL 4,19 432 4946 (UED)03.03.'88 21:30 H0.19 PAGE 4 DRAFT 1142V 3/02/88 t

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1. Introduction Past collaboration between DOE laboratories and the The Joint Research Centers of'the Commission of the European Communities, no'tably with the European Ipstitute for Transuranium Elements (EITE), Karlsruhe, FRG, has been very produ'etive, but has been hindered by the lack of wel'1 defined protocols for commun cation and accountable material (Pu, Np, Am, etc.) sample exchange.

i We are proposing in this document the creation of these p, rot" ols in general, and presen ing a specific proposal involving the EITE, thfe Lawrence Livermore National l'aboratory (LLNL), and Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).

l 2.

I Backaround i

There has been a long history of collaboration betwee'n the Department of Energy an theTheJointResearchCentersoftheCommiss(onoftheEuropean i

Comuni tie,s . Most of the a:tivity has been with the Trarisuranium Institute in Karlsruhe,! West Ger.wany, and somewhat less with the Ispra Establishment

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l (Italy); t,he latter mostly in terms of visits by DOE scisntists on ~

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sabbatical,s, etc.

A some'what different cooperation has existed for many years between the excellent Standards Laboratory at Geel, Belgium, and the; National Bureau of Standards.f Histor'ically, cooperation began in earnest in the early 60's, when scientists from Los Alamos helped in the design and construction phases of the Karlsruhe ' Institute, which is modelled after the CHR building in Los Alamos.

In1968,N.H..OlsonofLosAlamosspentasabbaticalyearinKarlsruhe,

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FROM UC LLHL 4.19 033 4946 (UED )0 3. 03. ' 8 8 31139 HO.19 PAGE 9

! DRAFT ll42V 3/02/88 I  !

working on! the high temperature properties (U of mixed

+ Pu/0x) oxide'l fuels.

J. N. Hard from Los Alamos determined the vapor pressures and thermodynamic properties of both americium and curium metals in 1972-73, work which led in lateryearfstoamorefundamentalunderstandingofthe( ectronic structure l

and bonding of actinide metals.

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Over the years there have been many exchanges in the. area of properties of nuclear fuels, information and visits going in both directions. An important contributorI has been Jules Rotbort from Argonne National! Laboratory, but other scientists l from this laboratory have also been involved.

Researlchsampleshavebeenexchangedonaregularbasis. Protactinium

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metal samples from Karlsruhe were studied at Los Alamos,!resulting in good values for low-temperature heat capacity, superconductivity, and the metal vapor pres,sure. Hard returned to Karlsruhe in 1981-82 thcharacterizethe uniquepropertiesofthePa+Hsystem,followedthenextyearbyJ.Haschke from Rockwell International, Rocky Flats Plant, who continued this work in I

terms of the thermodynamics of this system. In 1985 about 90g of double I

electro-refined Np metal was sent to Karlsruhe, resulting in a whole series of f i new measurements. Hard returned to perform a definitive study of the Np + H system, J., Naegele of Karlsruhe and L. Cox of Los Alamos have collaborated on XPS*(Los lamos) and UPS'(Karlsruhe) surface studies on this metal, using the I

special sensitivities of the instruments at the two laboiatories to best advantage Finally, a number of high quality single crystal Np compounds and

• XPS = X ray photoelectron spectroscopy UPS-Uftravioletphotoelectronspectroscopy 4 ,

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FROM UC LLHL 415 433 4'946 WED)03.02.'88 31830 H0.19 PAGE 6

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DRAFT ll42V 3/02'/88 i

l I intermetallics were made at Karlsruhe by J. C. Spirlet; it should be noted that Spirl t's preparation laboratory has gained a world-wide reputation.

These samples have been shared with other laboratories and universities, for special studies.

i Anothe{rlong-termcollaborationshouldalsobementio,ned,thatofphysical I

chemical s'tudies on transplutonium elements and compounds.. This work has been supported by the Department of Energy Basic Energy Sciences Group, and has l

involved Rl. G. Haire and J. E. Peterson of ORNL, as well 'as Baybarz of ORNL and J. Hard of Los Alamos, in the earlier years. l l  !

Recently C. Colmenares of LLNL has collaborated with J. Naegele (Karlsruhe in a whole series of interesting surface science studies on I

actinide compounds, particularly in identifying chemisorptive and catalytic 1

of some of these systems. Also ongoing in this area are joint properties'I studies (Cox/Naegele) on pure delta-Pu samples.

The point to be made is that these various collaborations have resulted, I

over the y, ears, in extensive new data and an . extension of the understanding of actinide metal, alloy and compound properties, using to blest advantage the expertise 'of scientists and the special instrumental facilities unique to both sides of the Atlantic. However, the exchange of samples lhas been difficult because an adequate protocol has not been established to. facilitate the process.

3. Procosed Protocol for Communication and Samole Exchange There is a need to establish a procedure, involving h0E and other governmental agencies, to expedite the transfer of radioactive accountable materials:(i.e..actinideelementsandcompounds)betweedUSNational i 1 I

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F R 0)1 UC LtHL 419 033 4946 QED)e3.03.'88 21:37 H0.19 PAGE P ORAFT ll42V 3/02/88 Laboratories and The Joint Research Centers of the Commission of the European Communitle's or vice versa. The advantages to the parties' involved and DOE derivesfrlmbringingtogetherresourcesandexpertsinvariousfields,either o

in a US or The Joint Research Centers of the Comission $f the European Comunitie,s facility to carry out research in the physicd-chemical sciences that mayI npt otherwise be carried out, or, from the translfer of a unique technologyI among laboratories. The overall intent of the program is to I

encourage experimental programs that will lead to collaborative publications.

I Thus, we propose that DOE should establish the required protocols to implement the rapid exchange of information or of accountable samples between US National laboratories and The Joint Research Centers of the Comission of the 1

European Comunities. To facilitate this process the par, ties  ; involved propose l

the following administrative, technical, and material acclountability measures:

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1) Formation of an administrative comittee from the laboratories involved whose function is to authorize and confrol the transfer of accountable material. Therewillbeonemember!andanalternatefrom -

l I e,ach laboratory involved.

2) Flormation of a technical steering committee comfosed of a senior l

s'cientist and an alternate from each laboratory,I involved. This l I I comittee will screen and approve technical exc anges, identify the I

m,aterials required, and request their transfer.l This cocrnittee will submit a short document to DOE identify'ng the droject, its merits, a'vailability of accountable material and its so0rce,and request the 1 l necessary transfers. ,

3) [neachlaboratory,themembersofthetechnica and administrative c'omittees will be responsible to maintain accountability of any

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FROM UC L,LHL 469 433 4946 (UED>6S.83.'88 31I38 I H0.19 PAGE 8 DRAFT 1142V 3/02/88 l

material transferred to a laboratory on loan an to summarize in writing the disposition of the material on a yearly basis, both to t a loaning institution and the USDOE. At the completion of a

• project, a complete accountability of material, ! detailing losses, I

w ill be provided. All other material remaining w,111 be shipped back j

to the loaning institute. ~

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4) Compounds and single crystals produced at a laboratory from material l I obtained on loan will be made available to the t o parties involved I

and to other members on a first-come first-serv basis. The members l

of the technical committee will keep other memb ,rs informed via a I

semi-annual newsletter. -

5)

Accountable l materials will be loaned at no chargle and the borrowi I l party will incur all transportation costs.  ;

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6) The borrowing institution will acknowledge in al,1 publications the l

loaning laboratory. l I i

7) The maximum amount of any single accountable material transferable _

i under this protocol is 400 grams at one time.

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8) Ai: countable material on loan to The Joint Resear,ch Centers of the l C ission of the' European Communities from US kational Laboratories i i

will not be transferred or loaned in any shape o'r form to the Soviet Ul ion or their satellite countries India, Pakisl tan, and Israel without the explicit written consent of the USDOE.

9) Lolanswillbeforfouryearsandrenewableatthleendofeachterm.

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4. Safeauards The ma'in repository for the transfer of radioactive material is the European nstitute for Transuranium Elements, a Joint Research Center of the Commission of the European Communities located within the Kernforschung Zentrum (German Government Laboratory) in Karlsruke, FRG. The latter is inside a completeley fenced site with restricted access and patrol led by armed personnel. The Transuranium Institute is inside the Kernforschung Zentrum and isolated by a double fence with concertina wire on top; a corridor with l

sensors separates the two fences. Armed guards with pol' ce dogs patrol the perimeter Access to the Institute requires a valid permit to enter the Kernsforschung,whichisexchangedbyabadgevalidonlylattheInstitute.

1 This badge and a right hand-scanner validate thr access <:o the facility.

Accounl ting of all radioactive material at the Transurnaium Institue is i

kept by a' German Government protocal based on the International Atomic Energy Agency (I EA) oocument INF-CIRC-225 Rev.1, entitled "Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials (June 1977).

The T ansurnaium Institute will serve as the distribution center for s mil samples (a few grams) going to other Institutions. Most preparative work to l

i produce actinide compounds will also be carried out at this site.

5. Scecific Proposal Involvino JIIE. LLNL. and LANL l

A. Procosal 237 Np from To ship to EITE ~200g each of high purity a,239 Pu and LLNL to bel used in scientific experiments involving LLNL I

utilizing'the unique facilities of EITE. These experiments will be described l below. Th Np and Pu available at EITE are,very impure (lparticularly high i

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FROM UC L-LNL WE D )03. 03. ' 8 0 31130 f NO.19 PAGE le 4}Q 4*3 4b46

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DRAFT ll42V 3/02/88 oxygen content), which makes them unsuitable for certain experiments. Further-more, theilr purification is not economically attractive.

Discussions have also been held between LLNL and EITE personnel on the 242 This possibility of loaning some i

Pu-metal to the latter if lavailable.

much less active than 239 Pu and has the great advantage that its isotopeis'I I self-heating is negligible. Pu-242 is preferred for low temperature experi-ments (photoemission studies or resistivity measurements) or for thermal 239 neutron experiments, in which the large fission cross section in Pu is a serious handicap.

B. Administrative Committee l

EITE: Director of the Establishment, Dr. J. Van Geel Alternate: Head of Personnel and Administration l Division, Hr. P. Blaes l

LLNL: Associate Directors for Chemistry and Defense Systems, Drs. C. Gatrousis and G. Hiller, respectively Alternate: Leader of the Condensed Hatter and A alytical Sciences Division Head, Dr. H. Fluss.

LANL: Program Manager for Nuclear Materials, Dr. P. T. Cunningham Alternate: Program Hanager for Plutonium Recovery, Dr. D. R. Harber Technical Steerina Comittee EITE: Head of Chemistry Division, Prof. J. Fuger Alternate: G. Lander, Group Leader LLNL: Dr. C. Colmenares, Surface and Interface Science Group Alternate: To be named at a later date i

LANL:)

Dr. J. Hard, Surface Properties of Actinides, MST Division Alternate: Dr. L. Cox, "

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FROM UC LLHL 4k94334b46 (CED)S3.03.'80 31831 HO.19 PAGE 11

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DRAFT 1142V 3/02/88 C. Siort Term Proiects The short term projects involving EITE, LLNL, and LANL are:

() Studies of the reactivity of U. Pu, Np, anc their intermetallics and al oys with Fe, Ni, Co, etc. with gases such as , CO , 0 , H '

2 2 2 H 0, and some hydrocarbons. A high resolution Ultraviolet and X-Ray 2

Photoelectron Spectrometer (UPS and XPS, respective 1 ) equipped to handle highly radioactive samples has been used in the measurements. This colla ration involves C. Colmenares (LLNL), who sperit three months at l

EITE (Sept.-Dec. 1986), and J. Naegele and T. Gouder (EITE). LLNL does l

not currently have facilities in UPS and XPS to hand' e highly radioactive I

samples.

I b) Studies of the electronic structure of pluhonium and its alloys This collaboration involves Larry Cox (ULNL) and J. Naegele usinglPS.

(EITE). Experiments are now in progress using a smal l plutonium sample I

shipped from LANL to EITE.

l (c) Study of grain-boundary impurities, in gall ium-stabilized 6-Pu using Ithe electron microscope facilities at EITE. This project ~nas not yet be en initiated and will involve P. H. Adler (LLN!.), I. Ray, H. Blank, and J. C. Spirlet from EITE.

D. Loncer Term Proiectt These projects would make use of the unique facilities at EITE, such as:

Sinale Crystal Produc_ tion Caoabilities T,hese include mineralization, Czochralski, zone refining equipment, and cutting and orientation faciliti es installed in glove boxestohandleradioactivematerjals. Example's of crystals that

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l FRCM UC (LHL 4LS 422 4646 (WED)83.02.'88 21131 H0.15 PA6E 12 I

DRAFT 1142V 3/02/88 hlve a be?n grown are NpC, NpAs, pus, PuAs, PuSb, and intermetallies I

such as PuFe 2

, NpCo 2 etc. A large number of experiments with I

other European collaborators have been carried out with these I

materials, such as:

- Magnetization studies (Zurich),

- H0ssbauer spectroscopy (Hunich and Strossbourg),

- Neutron scattering (Grenoble and Riso l Denmark),

- High pressure x-ray diffraction (Hamburg),

- X-ray absorption spectroscopy (Berlin),

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- Resistivity (Grenoble and Amsterdam), tnd

- Specific heat (Harwell, UK).

In all cases samples were encapsulated at EITE before shipment to the collaborating laboratory and then returned to EITE after the I

experiments.

LLNL is particularly interested in the transfer of single l

crystal production-technology for radioactive materials and in the_

synthesis of superconductor material containing actinide elements.

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