ML20247H409
| ML20247H409 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 07/21/1989 |
| From: | Carr K NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Watkins J ENERGY, DEPT. OF |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 8907280382 | |
| Download: ML20247H409 (1) | |
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w [h o'I NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION UNITED STATES
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j-E WASHINGTON, D. C. 20566 f
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July 21, 1989
. 3g E CHAIRMAN 1
-1 The Honorable' James D. Watkins l
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- Secretary of Energy
- . Washington,D.C. 20S85
Dear Mr. Secretary:
l A joint review of comparability between U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission ~
(NRC) and Department of Energy (DOE) programs for the protection of strategic quantities. of: weapons-usable special nuclear material in-transit was' completed -
November 15,'1988.. The' review was a follow-on to a previously conducted h
comparability review of the protection of.this material at fixed sites. The results of.the latest review indicate that extensive and significant dif-ferences exist between the current DOE safe secure trailer (SST) system and-NRC regulations' for the protection of highly enriched uranium (HEU).in-transit...
.There presently are no commercial carriers licensed by NRC to transport strategic quantities of HEU because the small number of shipments (four.to
.five annually) makes-it economically infeasible to support required protection.
In the best interest of.the Government. DOE agreed to transport these commer-cial shipments, on an interim basis, using the SST system until a qualified and interested commercial' transporter was available (REF: September 1, 1988.
internal DOE memorandum from B. Twining to T.E. Wade, classified CONFIDENTIAL NSI).
In the. absence of a licensed carrier, we request that DOE continue to transport commercial HEU using the SST system until a qualified comercial transporter comes. forward. -In the interim, we plan to initiate rulemaking to amend our regulations.for HEU in-transit to a level' comparable to DOE standards. The
.NRC technical contact'on this issue is Donald J. Kasun, who can be reached by
-telephone on 492-0478. We would appreciate hearing from you on this' matter and look-forward to a' continuing spirit of cooperation between o'ur two agencies in
. support of.the Federal mandate for comparability.
Sincerely.
O h.6 Kenneth M. Carr DF6 I
I o i
8907280382 890721
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PDR COMMS NRCC CORRESPONDENCE PDC
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