NRC Generic Letter 79-34, New Physical Security Plans (FR 43280-285)

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July 30, 1979

TO ALL NONPOWER REACTOR LICENSEES

Background

On July 24, 1979, the Commission published in the Federal Register (FR 43280-285) amendments to 10 CFR Parts 70 and 73 that will provide for physical protection measures to detect theft of special nuclear material (SNM) of moderate and low strategic significance. These amendments apply to nonpower reactor licensees and have been promulgated to apply the international standards of physical protection as outlined in Information Circular 225 (Rev

1) and recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency. As noted in the notice issued Feb 28, 1979, the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation Safeguards planned visits at all affected nonpower reactor facilities to assist in the review and assessment of site specific characteristics. Most of the sites have now been visited. The new rule (10 CFR 73.47) is provided at Enclosure "A" as excerpted from the Federal Register Notice.

As noted in 10 CFR 73.47, all affected licensees must submit new physical security plans by 120 days from Nov 21, 1979 following the content and format of Regulatory Guide 5.XX, which was previously provided to you. Along with this submission and to insure licensing conditions reflect the category of physical protection to be maintained, each license must be changed to include the implementation and maintenance of the physical security plan as a license condition. As the new regulation defines the categories by quantity and enrichment of SNM authorized by the license also must contain these values. Therefore, submit within 30 days of receipt of this notice, the total amount of SNM required to be possessed, the total amount required in the core, the total amount required in storage, and the amounts of each of the foregoing to be exempt and nonexempt. It should be noted that with the implementation of the Safeguards Upgrade Rule, all fuel previously exempted that was in the core and had been irradiated is no longer exempt. The only exemption criteria is the self-protection criterion. If SNM is to be exempt an amendment to the Technical Specifications also must be made establishing surveillance requirements for measuring the radiation levels of the exempted fuel.

Sincerely,

Robert W. Reid, Chief Operating Reactors Branch #4 Division of Operating Reactors

Enc: Federal Register Notice (FR 43280-285)ATTACHMENT TO GENERIC LETTER TO ALL NONPOWER REACTOR LICENSEES DATED JULY 30, 1979

SUBJECT: TRANSMITTING FR 43280-285

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