ML20237L034
| ML20237L034 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/31/1987 |
| From: | Zech L NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Bonker D HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20237L037 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8708200052 | |
| Download: ML20237L034 (4) | |
Text
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UNITED STATES o
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION y
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W ASHINGTON. D. C. 20555 y
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.....a July 31, 1987 CHAIRMAN J
The Honorable Don Bonker, Chairman Subcommittee on International l
Economic Policj and Trade i
United States House of Representatives Washington, D. C. 20515 f
Dear Mr. Chairman:
(
I am responding'to your June 19, 1987 request.for information j
about imports of South African-origin uranium and the j
Commission's related licensing practices.
From January 2, 1985 until December 31, 1986, a general l
license issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission covered j
all uranium imports, except 100 kilograms or more of spent fuel.
Under that general license any person could import uranium into the U.S., if the consignee.was authorized to receive it, without obtaining a specific import license from NRC.
It was under this unrestricted general authority that virtually all uranium imports during 198'5 and 1986, including uranium from South Africa, entered the U.S.
On December 31, 1986 the Commission, in response to the provisions of the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986, 1
revised its regulations to require specific import licenses for all i.nports of South Af rican origin uranium.
Shortly after this revision went into effect, the Commission received the import license applications re' erred to-in your letter.
These applications are still under consideration by the NRC.
Detailed responces to the questions raised in your letter are attached.
Sincere',y, M W.
Lando W.
Z h,J l
Enclosures:
l Responses to questions l
8708200052 e70731 COMMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDR PDR
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1.
Question: (a)'what is the' percentage of total uranium imports to the U.S. i n 1985 and 1986 from
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South Africa.and; (b) what is the percentage of uranium imports to the U.S.
i n those years that were of South African origin and in the form of uranium hexafluoride (UF6)?
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f Answer:
I The following table _shows the quantity 1of South African-origin uranium imported into the U.S. in 1985 and 1986, compared to uranium imports from all sources.
Uranium Imports
[TE KTT5 grams 1 l
Total South African Ursnium i
Year Imports
'TotaT-
~UF6 Rin-UF6 i
1985 10,535,089 2,394,832 228,059
- 2,166,773 1986 17,315,118 7,194,372 637,354 6,557,018-The percentage of South African uranium imported in.1985, compared to total imports of uranium from all sources in_that year, was approximately 22.7%.
In 1986.this percentage was 41.5%.
The increase in 1986 over 1985~is largely;due to 1
increased imports by foreign utilities in anticipation of the import ban against South African uranium.
This' ban'went into
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1 effect December 31, 1986.
The imports of South African uranium, as uranium hexaflu~oride (UF6), amounted to approximately.10% of the tota'loSouth-African-origin uranium imports during the years -1985 and
.1 1986, and amounted to between 2 and 4% of the total imports into the U.S. of all uranium in these.same years.
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i 2.
Question In the Commission's view-(does) the increase in applications represent an anticipated increase in imoorts of South African-origin uranium or (dtis this) represent what is.known-
'l as bulk quanti ies.without' contractual backing?
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Answer:
In the. Commission's view, the eight pending applications for the import of South African-origin uranium do not represent an anticipated increase in imports-of South African material.
Imports of South African uranium during 1985 and 1986 occurred during a period.in which. uranium imports from any country did not require a specific license.
During 1985, South African imports'were about 22% of-total imports.
The l
corresponding percentage in 1986 was 41.5%.
Much of this I
increase was in anticipation of an import ban'on l
December. 31, 1986.
We expect this figure to drop to120% or l
l less in the future.
1 The pending applications were submitted as a result of the revision to NRC regulations, effective December 31, 1986, l
which requires that any person seeking to import South African uranium must request and obtain a specific license for this purpose.
Uranium imports from al'1 other countries remain subject to the broad general license provisions of NRC's regulations.
Only two of the eight applications submitted to the NRC since January 1, 1987 are based upon reasonably assured contracts and these two covered the same pending commitment..0ne of these two requests was for 167,700 kilograms of material.
i The second,-for 40,000 kilograms, represented only a portion of the expected import, and was withdrawn by.thefapplicant when it became apparent that the1 contract had been. secured by the other applicant. The remaining six applications are for broad (bulk) import authority for periods of two, three or five years and are not based upon specific contract requirements.
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3.
Q~uestion (What is) the Commission's standard practice in interpreting quantities shown on import
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applications versus actual / anticipated imports?
Answer:
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The Commission's general practice with respect to import
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licenses is to grant authorization to import that quantity of 1
material for which the importer may reasonably expect to l
obtain contracts.
There is no requirement or firm expectation that the import of the quantity authorized actually takes place.
However, under separate regulations, j
l all uranium importers licensed by NRC are required to account 1
i for and report the actual quantities of uranium in their l
i possession.
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