ML20147E675
| ML20147E675 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/05/1987 |
| From: | Burnett R NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| To: | Thompson H NRC |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20147E654 | List: |
| References | |
| FOIA-87-722 NUDOCS 8801210196 | |
| Download: ML20147E675 (3) | |
Text
Y ,. .
js G F" dF @6TRSUT10N: y 1S
- HSS r/f
. SGTB r/f & s/f JCook CMacDonald RBurnett QUN 0 51187 NOTE T0: Hugh L. Thompson, Jr.
~
SUBJECT:
US-JAPAN BILATERAL AGREEMENT' _
1 an responding to your recent request for more information concerning an article on the new US-Japan Bilateral Agreement for Cooperation which appeared in the May 18, 1987 issue of Nuclear Fuel. As indicated in the article, air shipment of plutonium between Europe and Japan could begin pursuant to the new Agreement. Governor Cowper of Alaska has raised concerns over the potential environmental impacts of plutonium air shipment refueling stops in Alaska, which would be possible under the Agreenent.
The following chronology Summarizes the principal events, correspondence and staf f involvement concerning transport packaging issues related to the Agreement:
March 3,1987: Tne Nuclear Control Institute issued a press release and special report describing concerns over technical issues with plutontun air transport, loss of U.S. authority over Japanese re-use of plutonium, vulnerability to terrorist attacks, and diversion.
March 16, 1987: NRC staff (SGTR, 0GPA/IP, 0GPA/CA and briefed OGC) Alaska)
Ton Roberts of Senator Mirkowski's staff (
concerning the possible plutonium air shipmentt. Mr. Roberts was primarily interested in the health and safety and physical security requirements for such shipments.
Staf f described NRC's regulatory role for air transport packaging, and the significant difficulties in designing the larger capacity container envisioned for the Japanese shipnents.
March 23,1987: HRC staff (SGTR, 0GPA/IP and OGC) met with DOS, 00T and 00E representatives to discuss federal regulations applicable to Japanese plutonium air shipments. The participants indicated that the packaging used would be subject to 00T revalidation with technical assistance provided by NRC, and would possibly be subject to NRC certification under PL 94-79 (Scheurer Amendment). It was also reported that initial tests of the package being developed by the Japanese (designated PAT-3) were unsuccessful and that further tests might be 1
conducted in the fall of 1987.
l l 8801210196 080120 PDR FOIA
! RESNIKOO7-722 PDR l *"'">
..................... ...............-..~
-...---~~~~~
- -~~~.-~~~
-l--
..................... - - - ~ ~ " - - . - """""""""
! wac reau m no,eoisacw ouo OFFICIAL RECORD COPY * * " '" " "'
.. . _. ~ ..- - - - -
9 W
~
4 WT W" JUN 05 EST April 14,1987: By letter to Chairman Zech, Governor Cowper requested INC consideration of the Governor's request to the State Department for preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the consequences of plutonium air shipnents through Alaska. The _ Governor made a similar request to Secretary Dole in a separate letter.
April 22,1987: flRC staf f (SGTR, 0GPA/IP, and OGC) met with DOS, DOT anci DOE representatives to discuss environnental issues associated with the Agreement, including the implementation of r4 EPA in NRC package certifications. The neeting concluded with a decision by State to draf t a brief document that would address the environmental aspects of the shipnents.
14RC's Qualification Criteria To Certify a Package for Air Transport of Plutonium" (NUREG-0360) and certifications to Congress on the PAT I and !! packages would be included in the document.
May 15, 1987: Chaiman Zech responded by letter to Governor Cowper's request by providing assurances that NRC's plutonium air transport safety standards (10 CFR 71.88) would apply to shipments under the Agreenent, that work would continue with other agencies to appraise the full impact of the proposed agreement on the U.S. public, and that specific attention would be paid to the Governor's concerns. SGTR comments were incorporated in the Chairman's letter.
At present, we are awaiting the draft environmental assessment from DOS.
., 6-%
" Motiert F. Burnett k __
omes) ,
- ' a ,1A....... F 5 r ..................... ...................
. . .f. h.a,j ,,,,,,,,,,
gt............... .....................
Eac r=u m no,somacw o:4o w u.s.am nes -4oo.34 OFFICIAL RECORD . . - .
COPY ......---__: -
. . .n . .
q e . O MAR 2 61W/
Item for EDO Staff Meeting Meeting on Air Transport of Plutonium From France to Japan March 23, 1987 On March 23, representatives from IP, 0GC, and NMSS attended a meeting at the State Department to discuss air transport of Pu from France to Japan. Also present at the meeting were representatives from the State Department, DOE, and the Department of Transportation. The basic purpose of the meeting was to discuss the laws and regulations which would apply to such shipments. A State Department representative explained that the agreement being considered between the U.S. and Japan does not displace any applicable U.S. laws. The DOT representative indicated that the packaging used for a shipment which refueled in Alaska would be subject to revalidation by DOT as national conipetent authority for the U.S. The DOT representative also indicated that j DOT, under the DOT /NRC MOU, would seek technical assistance from NRC in l reviewing the package for revalidation. Because of the overlapping statutory authority of DOT and NRC with respect to the transport of radioactive l material, the package may also be subject to NRC licensing under PL 94-79 l (ScheurerAmendment). First tests of an initial PAT-3 package design to NRC's air transport criteria were not successful. Further testing of an improved design may be conducted later this Fall. The purpose of the meeting was to l
exchange information and no agreements were made. The State Department representative intends to circulate a draft sumary of the meeting to attendees for coment.
l l
r
_