ML20214N288
| ML20214N288 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 05/27/1987 |
| From: | Harold Denton NRC OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL & PUBLIC AFFAIRS (GPA) |
| To: | NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| References | |
| CON-#287-3553 NUDOCS 8706020127 | |
| Download: ML20214N288 (5) | |
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$$P UNITED STATES OF AMERICA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 87 MY 27 P3 :45 0FFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS Harold R. Denton, Director gfI ep um In the Matter of EDLOW INTERNATIONAL COMPANY Docket No. 11002967 License No. ISNM-82020 (Import License for Enriched Uranium from A Country Not Specified)
In the Matter of TRANSNUCLEAR, INC.
Docket No. 11003111 License No. ISNM-83005 (Import License for Enriched Uranium from A Country Not Specified)
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In the Matter of WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORPORATION Docket No. 11002348 i
License No. ISNM-81001 (Import License for Enriched Uranium from A Country Not Specified)
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Tn~theMatterof EDLOW INTERNATIONAL COMPANY l
Docket No. 11000168 l
License No. 1U-78019 (Import License for Nuclear Source l
l Haterial from A Country Not 1
Specified) 1
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In the P'atter of
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INTERNATIONAL ENERGY ASSOCIATES LTD. 'l Docket No. 11003688 l
License No. ISHl'-84012 (ImportLicenseforEnrichedUraniumll IlexafluoridefromSouthAfrica) l I
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In the Ma~tter of i
SEPARATIVE WORK UNIT CORPORATION l
Docket No. 11002597 l
License No. IShM 82016 i
(Import License for Enriched and ll Natural Uranium from A Country l
NotSpecified) 1 J
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OM7 poq DR ram -oiooi
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2 In the Matter of BRAUNKOHLE TRANSPORT, USA Docket No. 11003204 License No ISNM-83011 (Import License for Natural and Enriched Uranium from A Country NotSpecified)
In the Matter of ADVANCED NUCLEAR FUELS, CORP.
Docket No. 11003365 l
License No. !$hM 83025 (Import License For Natural and l>1 Enriched Uranium From A Country NotSpecified) l l
l1 In the Matter of l
PHIBRO-SALOMON,INC.
l l
Docket No. 11002933 i
License No. ISNM-82015 (Import License for Natural and
)
Enriched Urantun from South Africa) l
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In the Matter of h
i NEW YORK NUCLEAR CORPORATION l
Docket No. 11003097 l
License No. ISNM-83003 (Import License for Enriched Uranium ll fromaCountryNotSpecified) 1
)
In the Matter of
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)l Docket No. 11002593 TRANSNUCLEAR,INC.
License No ISNM-81017 (ImportLicenseforSpecialNuclear h Material from A Country Not l
i Specifled) l
,A DIRECTOR'S RESP _0,NSE TO EMERGENCY PET,1,T10N TO SUSPEND LICENSES On May 13, 1987, seven members of the United States House of Representatives (Congresstren Ronald Y. Dellums, Mervyn H. Dymally, William H. Gray, Ill, Edward J. Markey, Charles 8. Rangel, Bill Richardson and
l Howard Wolpe), the Nuclear Control Institute, American Comittee on Africa, Transafrica, Inc. and the Washington Office of Africa (" petitioners") filed an emergency motion with the Comission asking it to suspend eleven existing licenses which a'uthorize the import into the United States of i
South Africa-origin uranium. On February 17, 1987, petitioners had asked the Commission to revoke these same licenses. The Comission has not yet j
acted on that petition, j
The petitioners filed the May 13, 1987 emergency motion shortly after they learned that Edlow International Company had imported South African uranium without giving the Comission prior notification. On February 4, l
1987, the NRC staff had written to Edlow and the other holders of existing 1
South African import licenses asking them not to import South l
Africa origin uranium without giving prior notification to the Comission.
I Af ter the NRC learned of the Edlow shipment, it met with the President of l
that company. That official stated that Edlow did not consider the NRC notification request to be a binding legal requirement.
In light of this I
sequence of events, petitioners request that the Comission imediately suspend the eleven licenses in question.
They argue that unless the Comission acts forcefully, the other license holders can be expected to j
l follow Edlow's lead and seek to promptly bring in massive quantities of South Africa-origin uranium.
j After carefully considering petitioners' arguments, I have denied the emergency motion, because NRC has taken alternative action which should foreclose further uranium imports from South Africa, without Comission 1
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- authorization, during the period that the Comission is considering whether to revoke the existing licenses. On May 14, 1987, I issued a " Demand for Information" on each of these holders.
I imposed on each of these licensees a binding legal requirement that they notify the NRC of the date, quantity and end user of any planned import of any form of uranium of South African origin. Such information must be submitted to the NRC no later than 60 days in advance of each shipment date. There are no exceptions to this 60-day advance notice requirement unless specifically approved in advance, in writing by the NRC.
In addition, the NRC has written the attached letter to the Department of Treasury asking that the Customs Department preclude imports of South Africa-origin uranium unless it has received written proof that the 60-day NRC notification requirement has been complied with.
It is my understanding that the Treasury Department has agreed to enforce this notification requirement.
4.-
O arola R. Denton, Director Office of Governmental and Public Affairs Dated in Washington, D.C.
this 4 7 day of May,1987
MAY 2 0 1987 i
Mr. William Hoffman Office of Foreign Assets Control U.S. Department of Treasury Room 500 1331 G Street NW Washington, D. C. 20220
Dear Mr. Hoffman:
The Comission has recently sent a notice (copy enclosed) to all holders of NRC import licenses which imposes a requirement to notify the Commission at least 60 days in advance of any contemplated import of South African-origin uranium. The Comission requests the cooperation of the Treasury Department in assuring that any such imports, when clearing Customs, are accompanied by adequate proof that this advance notification requirement has been met.
Thank you for your assistance on this matter.
Sincerely.-
nrisnit s';r* 1 by J:a.us F W3 James R. Shea, Director International Programs Office of Governmental and Public Affairs
Enclosure:
As stated
.