ML21348A042

9-23-20 NRC-DOE MOU on Protection of Classified Information and Related Security Activities at Uranium Enrichment Facilities

ML21348A042
Person / Time
Site:	07003103, 07007003, 07007004, 07007033
Issue date:	09/23/2020
From:	Mccune M US Dept of Energy (DOE), US Dept of Energy, Oak Ridge Operations Office, US Dept of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy
To:	Andrea Kock Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
Bartlett M
References
Download: ML21348A042 (2)

Text

Department of Energy Washington, DC 20585 September 23, 2020 Ms. Andrea Kock Director of the Division of Fuel Management (DFM)

Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852

Subject:

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) - Department of Energy (DOE)

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Protection of Classified Information and Related Security Activities at Uranium Enrichment Facilities

Dear Ms. Kock:

On August 2, 2018, NRC and DOE signed the subject MOU that requests DOE act as Authorizing Official for specified uranium enrichment facilities and provide technical assistance on related security matters for uranium enrichment facilities run by Centrus, GLE, and LES. Following the announcement that the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE) is closing its Oak Ridge Site Office, NE assessed current agreements and contracts for revision, update, or cancellation. While we value our relationship with the NRC, I regret to inform you that NE is no longer able to provide support consistent with the responsibilities described in the MOU. As such, this letter serves as DOEs official notice to terminate the subject MOU on March 22, 2021, consistent with Section VII-C, of the subject MOU.

As previously discussed with you and your staff, NE remains committed to supporting those activities tied to near-term license activities to minimize impacts to uranium enrichers. NE is supporting NRCs inspection priorities this fall related to the Centrus on-site activities at Piketon, Ohio; Oak Ridge, Tennessee; and Bethesda, Maryland, and the Global Laser Enrichment on-site activities at Wilmington, North Carolina. For all remaining activities, NE is prepared to initiate transition of responsibilities back to NRC and provide virtual support, as needed, to ensure an orderly turn-over of authorities.

If NRC believes that continued DOE support is necessary beyond the MOUs effective termination date on March 22, 2021, NE remains open to additional discussions to assess the need to establish a new agreement based on current security requirements and available DOE resources.

2 NE recognizes the longstanding successful partnership between our organizations regarding security support for uranium enrichment activities and will rely on our relationship during the termination period. If you have any questions, please dont hesitate to contact me at 301-903-8152 or mary.mccune@nuclear.energy.gov.

Sincerely, Mary McCune Associate Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Infrastructure Programs/Manager Nuclear Energy Oak Ridge Site Office Office of Nuclear Energy Department of Energy cc:

R. Baranwal, NE-1 A. Richards, NE-1 T. Bishop, NE-3