ML20217D993
| ML20217D993 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 03/25/1998 |
| From: | Cool D NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Stoiber C NRC OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS (OIP) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20217D998 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9803300355 | |
| Download: ML20217D993 (5) | |
Text
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.f WASHINGTON, D.C. 20S66 4001 March 25, 1998 MEMORANDUM TO:
Carlton R. Stoiber, Director Office of International Programs FROM:
Donald A. Cool, Director 4
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Division of Industrial and
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Office of Nuclear Material Safety k and Safeguards
SUBJECT:
RESPONSE TO BIRKHOFER REPORT We have reviewed the "Birkhofer Report on ' Nuclear Energy in the OECD: Towards an integrated Approach'" and offer the following comments.
Improving Visibility and Communication (of Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)):
Even if NEA could achieve the level of detachment in representing nuclear matters the Report calls for, other organizations may perceive NEA as biased. The experience in the U S. (and probably elsewhere as well) is that it is difficult for one organization to serve as both a technical resource and as an impartial policy advocate regarding that technology.
As the Report suggests, NEA's primary role should be to sustain and improve the scientific and technical basis for the safe use of nuclear energy. An alternative regarding communication of NEA's topical views might be for those views to be forwarded, along with those from the economic and environmental sectors, to a superior body with responsibility and accountability for weighing these perspectives. Favorable recommendations regarding nuclear energy originating from that body would seem to have a better chance of being viewed credibly by other organizations.
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The NEA and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA):
p, C3 We concur with the call for further defining the relationship between the NEA and IAEA,
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C' perhaps through a Memorandum of Understanding.
, Nuclear Energy and Sustainable Development:
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} i We agree that a more thorough discussion of nuclear energy in a sustainability context is C 'l required within the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD).
L' ! However, since assuring the safe operation of nuclear facilities and the safe disposal of nuclear d, wastes are critical to mintaining the option for the future use of nuclear energy, a careful L4 balance must be struck in the allocation of resources to support both near and long term (A strategic goals for the future of the NEA.
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- C:riton R. Stoiber The Role of Governments and International Cooperation, and Why and How the OECD Should Act in the Nuclear Sector:
As the report suggests, we recognize the importance of stabilizing the policy framework for nuclear energy and give higher priority to international cooperation in those areas where long-term efforts are required. The report also recommends maintaining the capabilities of the NEA as a strong technically-based body whose main task is to provide a sound understanding of the scientific and technical basis for safety. The Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards agrees with these recommendations, both in the context of waste management, and radiation protection, and therefore supports the programs executed by NEA's Radioactive Waste Management Committee (RWMC) and Committee for Radiation Protection and Public Health (CRPPH).
NEA Structure, Work Programme and Resources:
As indicated above, we agree that the basic working methods of the NEA, such as its standing technical committees, are sound and ensure tight accountability to the member countries. We have no objection to the recommended review with the objective of achieving operating cost savings, including a potential reduction of the number of standing committees. In the arena of waste management, we recommend that the RWMC be retained as a separate standing committee incorporating both regulators and developers and that its functions should not be combined with other standing committees. This is consistent with recent communication to NEA on this issue from the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation and from the U.S. delegation to the NEA RWMC. We believe that the RWMC continues to play an important l
role in facilitating an international dialogue among regulators and developers on the crucial issues of disposal of long-lived radioactive wastes.
In the arena of radiation protection, the programs supporting emergency protection including the International Nuclear Emergency Exercise (INEX) program; occupational exposure including i
the information System on Occupational Exposure (ISOE), and the interface on radiation protection and review of International Commission on Radiological Protection documents, continue to have significant value. If a combination of committees were envisioned which eliminated CRPPH, we believe that these key standing functions must be maintained within whatever new organizational structure is proposed. Therefore, we believe, that while ongoing focus on waste management is important, a balance needs to be continued in NEA programs, including the perspectives of nuclear safety, radiation protection, and waste management.
DISTRIBUTION:EDO G980144 NRC Central File EDO r/f LJCallan IMNS r/f MBridgers HLThompson NMSS r/f CPoland PDR: YES _ X NO
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DOCUMENT NAME:
G G980144 GWP To receive a copy of this doeurnent, indicate in the box.
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IM NAME GPurdy/ll FCombs -
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ACTION EDO Principal Correspondence Control l FROM:
DUE: 03/23/98 EDO CONTROL: G980144 i
DOC DT: 03/10/98 C rlton R. Stoiber p p fg (/6t,s d j
FINAL REPLY:
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FOR SIGNATURE OF :
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1 DESC:
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1 COMMENTS ON THE BIRKHOFER REPORT, " NUCLEAR ENERGY Callan IN THE OECD: TOWARDS AN INTEGRATED APPROACH" Thadani Thompson Norry Blaha Burns DATE: 03/11/98 ASSIGNED TO:
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. C riton R. Stoiber The Role of Governments and international Cooperation, and Why and How the OECD Should Act in the Nuclear Sector:
As the report suggests, OECD member governments recognize the international dimensions of stabilizing the policy framework for nuclear energy and give higher priority to international cooperation in those areas where long-term efforts are required. It also recommends maintaining the capabilities of the NEA as a strong technically-based body whose main task is to provide a sound understanding of the scientific and technical basis for safety. The Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards agrees with the recommendations,-both in a waste managera$nt context and a radiation protection context, and therefore supports the programs executed by NEA's Radioactive Waste Management Committee (RWMC) and Committee for Radiation Protection and Public Health (CRPPH).
NEA Structure, Work Programme and Resources:
/
As indicated above, we agree that the basic working methods of the NEA, such as its standing technical committees, are sound and ensure tight accountability to the member countries. We have no objection to the recommended review with the objective of achieving operating cost savings, including a potential reduction of the number of standing committees. In the arena of waste management, we recommend that the RWMC be retained as a separate standing committee incorporating both regulators and developers and that its functions should not be combined with other standing committees. This is consistent with recent communication to NEA on this issue from the Director of the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation and from the U.S. delegation to the NEA RWMC. We believe that the RWMC continues to play an important role in facilitating an international dialogue among regulators and developers on the crucial issues of disposal of long-lived radioactive wastes.
/
In the arena of radiation protection, the programs supporting emergency protection including International Nuclear Emergency Exercise (INEX), occupational exposure including Information System on Occupational Exposure (ISOE), and interface on radiation protection and review of ICRP documents, continue to have significant value. If a combination of committees were envisioned which eliminated CRPPH, we believe that these key standing functions must be maintained within whatever new o'rganizational structure is proposed. Therefore, we believe, that while ongoing focus on waste management is important, a balance needs to be continued in NEA programs, including the perspectives of nuclear safety, radiation protection, and waste management.
/
/
DISTRIBUTION:EDO G980144 NRC Central File
/
EDO r/f LJCallan
{
IMNS r/f
/
MBridgers HLThompson NMSS r/f
/
CPoland PDR:YES X NO DOCUMENT NAME:
G.0980144 GWP To receive a copy of this document, indicate in the box:
"C"= Copy w/o att/end. "E" = Co 3y w/attlenci "N" = No copy
. M,il u OFC OB t
IMNS m
NAME GPurdy/II t r FCombs DCool DATE 3/23/98 3/2 5798 3/
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e Carlton R. Stoiber 3
crucialissues of disposal of long-lived radioactive wastes. It is importpnt to note that the RWMC has recently initiated a careful examination of the future direction of wpfk in light of the report of the high level advisory committee as well as other developmentsin NEA nember countries considering
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strategies for radioactive waste management ( It is important that the NRC contribute to this process as a member of the RWMC Bureau ).
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DISTRIBUTION: G980144 NRC Central File IMNS r/f NMSS r/f CPoland MBridgers PTressler LJCallan HLThompson EDO r/f PDR:YES Y NO DOCUMENT N E:
g:wso144 gwp To receive a cop f this document, indicate in the box:
"C"= Copy w/o nci "E" = Co 3y w/att/enct"N" = No copy
/
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OB OB IMNS NMSS NAN GPurdy/lF CP4rieiio FComes DCooi DhE 3/ 4 /98 3/
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/98 QFFICIAL RECORD COPY IMNS/SEC
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