ML20215K437

Responds to Re Procedural Matters Concerning Use of mixed-oxide Fuel in LWRs Per Commission 751114 Notice.Nrc Adopted 10% Max Concentration of Recycled Pu Fuel as Informal Guideline for Proposed OL Amends

ML20215K437
Person / Time
Issue date:	01/30/1976
From:	Rusche B Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
To:	Roisman A RUISMAN, KESSLER & CASHDAN
Shared Package
ML20215K418	List: IA-86-666, Ack Receipt of Re Ongoing Facilities Proceeding. Commission Must Decide Adjudication Solely on Bases of Submissions of Parties & Evaluations of Submissions ML20215K416 ML20215K425 ML20215K437 ML20215K455 ML20215K477 ML20215K514 ML20215K520 ML20215K533
References
FOIA-86-666 NUDOCS 8610280170
Download: ML20215K437 (2)

Text

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! COPY January 30, 1976 Anthony Z. Roisman, Esq.

Roisman, Keesler and Cashdan 1712 N Street, Northwest ' '

Washington ~, D. C. 20036 -

Dear Mr. Roisman:

This is in response to your letter to me of December 23, 1975 regarding procedural matters concerning the use of mixed-oxide fuel in light water nuclear power reactors under the provisions of the Commission's November 14, 1975 notice. The specific information you requested follows:

1. The staff has adopted 10% of the maximum concentration of recycled l plutonium fuel analyzed in the draf t GESMO (1.15 SGR) as an informal

- guideline for determining those cases in which prior notice would be a afforded of proposed nuclear power reactor operating license amend-ments to use mixed-oxide fuel. Proposals to use mixed-oxide fuel exceeding 10% of SGR would fall in the category for which prior notice would be given. I wish to emphasize that this judgmental staff guideline has been' chosen primarily on the basis of the recog-nized .public interest in this matter. As indicated in the draft GESMO, the safety and environmental considerations are essentia,11y unchanged for a currently designed LWR operating with mixed-oxide

fuel rods equal to 115% of SGR.

2. The staff would review any proposal for the use of mixed-oxide fuel in light water power reactors on the merits of the particular pro-posal. Acceptance or rejection would be based on compliance with l

the Commission's regulations. The Commission's determination,

! " Scope, Procedures and Schedule for Generic Environmental Impact i

Statement and Criteria for Interim Reviewing Actions," does not include any specific eligibility criteria for use of mixed-oxide fuel in light water power reactors. However, as noted in the Commission's determination, no wide-scale use of mixed-oxide fuel is possible until af ter the Commission's final decision on wide ,

scale use has been reached.

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I e610200170 861021 .

PDR FOIA PDR l DESIMON86-666

Anthony Z. Rosiman 3. A decision on whether or not an environmental impact statement will be prepared by the NRC staff in conjunction with an appli-cation for an operating license amendment for the use of mixed-

' oxide fuel in a light water nuclear power reactor will be based i

on the same informal staff guideline set forth in Item No. 1 above.

W' e will provide you with notification of applications for the use of

' mixed-oxide fuel in light water power reactors as they are filed.

I appreciate your interest in this matter.

Sincerely,

/s/ s .

Ben C. Rusche, Director j Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation F .

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