ML20154K071
| ML20154K071 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 09/16/1988 |
| From: | Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Glenn J SENATE, GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20154K075 | List: |
| References | |
| CCS, NUDOCS 8809230211 | |
| Download: ML20154K071 (2) | |
Text
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{p _1 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSICN f, WASHINGTON, D.C. 20066
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- September 16, 1988 g ,, ,,
The Honorable John Glenn, Chairman Committee on Governmental Affairs United States Senate
, . . Washington, D. C. 20510-6250 _
Dear Mr. Chairman:
oi iding a partial response to your August 2, 1988 i, in which you requested our assessment of two documents re. .,ng to the adequacy of IAEA safeguards procedures to detect the loss or diversion of significant quantities of nuclaar material. We are still reviewing the document enncerning the effectiveness of IAEA safeguardt at ALKEM during the years 1980 through 1985 and will provide you our views by separate letter.
The Commission has consistently maintained its position that in addition to utilizing the best available measurement technology, specific quantitative goals could and should be established prior to operation of the Japanese facilit.y.
Moreover, the Commission believes that quantitative goals are desirable because of the strategic importance c / e f acility of tne type and size planned by Japan. Our understanding is that safeguards technology should '. o availabla to detect loss or diversion of 8 kilograms of plutoniU~ within a four week period using near-real-time accounting. Tne Department of State's May 23 document ccknowledges this as a goal for the technology.
In addition, the May 23 document for the first time refers to studies which indicate that annual limits of error for inven-tory differences of 40-90 kilograms of olutonium are, in fact, achievable at the reprocessing facility. The identification of potential annual iimits of error as a goal, now apparently "
supported by the Department of State, is consistent with the Commission's belief in the desirability of quantitative goals.
By identifying tuch goals, the Executive Branch is now pro-viding information which is responsive to some of the concerns expressed in the Commission's December 16, 1987 testimony and by various members of Congress. The Commission intends to me.itor closely the development of technology for material control and accounting fo reprecessing of spent fuel containing plutonium since, at commercial-scale reprocessing facilities, safeguards effectiveness is considerably more diffic*It to control.
8809230011 880916 PDR COMME NRCC h fIO 2L CORFiESPONDENCE POC I l
-2 Foi the future, we intend to work closely with the Exccutive Branch and the Government of Japan to assure that the Agreement is implemented in a manner consistent with the intent of Congress and the objectives of U.S. Government policy on international safeguards. If you have any further questions on this matter, please contact me. '
Sincerely, -
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Lando W. Ze , Jr cc: Senator William V, Roth, Jr.
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