ML20134B711
| ML20134B711 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 02/06/1996 |
| From: | Shirley Ann Jackson, The Chairman NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| To: | Rogers K NRC COMMISSION (OCM) |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20134B619 | List:
|
| References | |
| FOIA-96-493 NUDOCS 9602150215 | |
| Download: ML20134B711 (4) | |
Text
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- UNITED STATES
!" %'n NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
{ $ WASHINGTON, D. C. 20565 February 6, 1996 i '% . . . . .
CHAIRMAN MEMORANDUM FOR: Commissioner Rogers i FRON: Shirley Ann Jackson j Q 4_
SUBJECT:
REPORT ON GCC-6 MEETINGS l The sixth meeting of the Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission (GCC-VI) was held January 29-30, 1996 in Washington. I attended the various meetings associated with the GCC's Energy Committee, including an Energy Committee pre-meeting
, with Vice President Gore on January 25, the Energy Committee's negotiating session with our Russian counterparts (including Minister Mikhailov) on January 26, the Energy Committee's report to the Vice President and Prime Minister Chernomyrdin on January 29, and the wrap-up signing on January 30. l The theme of GCC-VI was to highlight the successes achieved .in the aln,ost !
three year process. Unfortunately, due to budget constraints on both sides, finding the money needed to undertake either new projects or to finance ongoing cooperacion has become increasingly difficult, and will impact on the l GCC's ability to build on these successes. l 1
As in previous GCC meetings held in Washington, and contrary to Russian i Goverament assurances at the highest levels, the Russian delegation did not include a representative from our counterpart regulatory agency GOSATOMNADZOR, j the Federal Nuclear and Radiation Safety Authority (GAN). I underscored NRC's disappointment at this fact, particularly in light of the successful and mutually beneficial relationship which has developed between NRC and GAN. I i also noted that, in addition to language NRC and GAN inserted in the
" Cooperation on Nuclear Safety" section in the Energy Committee's report 4
specifying our cooperation, NRC and GAN signed a statement reaffirming our joint program of work to be conducted over the next 12 to 18 months (attachment 1).
In addition to NRC's involvement in the Energy Committee's nuclear safety topic (see attachment 2), NRC participated in developing the U.S. approach to alternatives for closure of Russia's plutonium production reactors. This approach has included a three-track effort to develop sources of heat and electric power needed to allow the shutdown of thret aged reactors at Tomsk and Krasnoyarsk. The three options are (1) a U.S. Trade and Development Agency-sponsored feasibility study to jointly assess possible fossil fuel replacement power sources; (2) an assessment of possible nuclear replacement power sources; and (3) an assessment of the technical feasibility of converting the cores of the production reactors to an operational mode eliminating further production of weapons-grade plutonium. Preliminary findings for the first option will be completed by the third quarter of 1996.
The first phase of the second option has now been completed, identifying four suitable Russian new-generation nuclear reactors (AST-500, NP-500, ATEC-200 gy x f
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2 and VK-300) which could be built within ten years at a cost of approximately l l
$1 billion apiece. !
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! The third option has also completed its first phase analysis, concluding that j
" core conversion is technically feasible, that it would lead to a significant i reduction in the volume of spent fuel generated annually, that after !
conversion there would be an insignificant amount of reactor-grade plutonium in the spent fuel, that certain inherent improvements in the safety of the l reactor's operation would be achieved, and that conversion could be carried out over...a two year period" at an estimated cost of $80 million. In correspondence with Department of Energy Secretary O' Leary (attachment 3), as l well as in working group sessions leading up to GCC-VI, NRC made clear its '
concerns that, should the core conversion option be chosen, that (a) safety remain at the heart of the project, in tanden with nuclea* nonproliferation l goals; (b) that the U.S. seek a commitment from Russia for an objective and l rigorous safety assessment; (c) that agreement be reached on what fundamental l
safety features are to be engineered into the design; and that (d) Russia devote appropriate levels of resources, including financial support and strong technical personnel at the sites, and place increased emphasis on safe nuclear power plant operation.
From the discussions at the January 29 Energy Committee report to the Vice President and Prime Minister, it seems clear that the core conversion option will be selected. We have been informed by DOE that the $10 million needed I for phase two of the core conversion study is being sought in various assistance accounts administered by AID (and perhaps Nunn-Lugar). The Administration sees no likelihood of obtaining funding for the other two high cost options, although they will continue to be evaluated as alternatives for the converted reactors at the end of their service life (about ten years after conversion). I believe the NRC emphasis on technical and cultural safety was well received. NRC will assist, to the extent resources permit, in helping our Russian counterparts enhance their capabilities to conduct the required safety review for the conversion option.
On the afternoon of January 29, just before the beginning of the GCC Energy Cosmiittee session, the Vice President, Prime Minister, Secretary O' Leary, myself and others toured a special DOE and NRC joint exhibit on U.S.-Russian cooperation in nuclear safety and materials protection and control set up at the Department of State (attachment 4). At the close of the walkthrough the Vice President suggested, and Prime Minister Chernomyrdin agreed, that the exhibit be taken to Moscow for. the April 1996 Nuclear Summit. The exhibit will be moved to the Department of Energy for a special viewing by press and invited U.S. Government dignitaries on February 1, 1996. After the April Nuclear Summit, NRC's panels will be placed on display in the lobby of TWFN.
The Vice President and Prime Minister committed to hold a seventh GCC meeting in June, in the week following the Russian Presidential elections. Further, i
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1 the issues being negotiated in each of the committees are at the stage that )
tough choices will need to be made, and long-term financial obligations will be incurred.
Attachments:
15 1. Text of NRC-GAN statement .
\liG 2. Final Report of the Energy Committee p,cy (cb 3. NRC 1/18/96 letter to DOE ~and DOE response letter of Jan. 24
\6 4. Text of NRC exhibit 14\$ 5. NRC Press statement cc: SECY OGC EDO G. Dicus l
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! JOINT STATEMENT SY DR. SE11LEt AIRI JACKSON, CEAIRMAN i 0F '!NE U.S. NUCLEAR RBGULA'!ORY C0094!88100t ABC
! YURI G50RG30VICH VISIDfEV8KY, CEAIILMAN OF TES RUSSIAN FEDERAL i NUCLEAR AND RADIATION SkFETY AtmIORITY l Dr. shirley Ann Jackson, Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory ,
l Commission (NRC) and Yuri Georgeovith Vishnevsky, Chatraan of the j Russian Federal Nuclear and Radiation Safety Authority
- (008A'IC00tADEOR) are utilising the occasion of the Gore /Chernouqrrdin !
! Conraission VI meetings in Washington to reaffirm the outually l l beneficial and constructive reistionship that has been established
! and maintained between their two agencies over the past several I 4
i . Years. i 1
! Dr. Jackson and Y. G. Vishnevsky also reaffinned the program of l work thac will be conducted by th61r two agencies over the next 12 ,
l to is months, as defined in the Memorandum of Meeting between Mr. '
l James Taylor, NRC's Executive Director for Operations and Alexander d
Timotmovich Gutsalov, 008A'ICDetAD80R's First Deputy Chairman, dated Decenter 15, 1995.
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Y^7 M Y. S. Vishnevsky Shirley Ann Jackson Chairman Chairean i United States Nuclear Russian Federal Nuclear and l Regulatory Comunission Radiation Safety Authority 1
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ATTACHMENT 1 1
, Nd) 2 08 UNITED STATES I
[>S Kf C NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 0 -'
I o WASHINGTON, D.C. 2065W1 '
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/ February 7, 1996 CHARMAN l
l l Dr. Juan Manuel Kindel&n !
Chairman Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear ,
Justo Dorado, 11 l l 28040 Madrid Spain l
Dear Dr. Kindeldn:
Thank you for your letter of December 19, 1995, in which you indicate the CSN's desire to continue the long-standing collaboration with NRC on nuclear safety research programs of mutual interest. .I agree with you that we need to continue and strengthen our cooperative activities in the area of nuclear !
regulatory research. Since Dr. David Morrison, NRC's Director of Nuclear Regulatory Research, visited Spain in December 1995, our research staff has started discussions with your technical staff to revise and adapt the content of the agreement so that the i renewed agreement will meet the current needs of both j i
organizations.
Since I expect that all necessary administrative arrangements to renew our agreement can be completed within the next few months, ,
I would like to accept your gracious invitation to visit the l' CSN's headquarters to sign the renewal of our research agreement, to hold discussions on matters of mutual interest, and then perhaps to visit a reactor site. I would propose to do so prior to the IAEA General Conference. If this is acceptable, I will ask a member of the NRC's Office of International Programs staff to coordinate with your staff in working out the detailed arrangements for the visit. In the meantime, I want to assure you that the CSN and the NRC can continue to collaborate under the present agreement until a new agreement is signed.
Sincerely,
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