ML20149F716
| ML20149F716 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/08/1994 |
| From: | Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Graham B SENATE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20072A920 | List: |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9408170245 | |
| Download: ML20149F716 (2) | |
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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION i f WASHINGTON, D.C. 30006-0001 I S
o / August 8, 1994 The Honorable Bob Graham ;
United States Senate ;
Mashington, DC 20510 ;
Dear Senator Graham:
i I am responding to your letter, dated June 30, 1994, in which you requested information relating to your constituent's concern about no advance i notification, to communities, of U.S. Navy and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) shipments of radioactive materials, and about Export-Import Bank financing for j the Czech Temelin nuclear plant. ,
It appears that your constituent is referring to our requirement that the !
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensees notify governors, in advance, of irradiated reactor fuel shipments within or through a State (10 CFR 73.37(f)). j
. This requirement is applicable only to persons licensed pursuant to our regulations. NRC was established to regulate the commercial use of radioactive materials; it does not have regulatory authority over the military l activities of the Navy or DOE. Navy and DOE military activities are not subject to NRC regulations (thus, they cannot be exempt from NRC regulations).
Navy and DOE military shipments of radioactive materials are subject to the Hazardous Material Regulations of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).
You may wish to further pursue your constituent's concerns in this area with DOT.
' The DOT contact is: George A. Brown, Chief Radioactive Materiais Branch Office of Hazardous Materials Technology l Research and Special Proggans Administration l U.S. Department of Transportation !
400 7th Street, S.W.
' Washington, D.C. 20590 With regard to the Temelin nuclear plant, while NRC has no regulatory responsibility for the plant, we do have some information that may be useful.
The DOE and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), taking Western standards into account, have both concluded that the VVER-1000 reactor being built at Temelin can be improved to meet a level of safety acceptable to Western countries. A technical mission of the IAEA concluded that the Temelin design is similar to that of modern pressurized light-water reactors now being put in operation in other countries, and the mission did not identify any major safety issue or problem in the Temelin design. It should be stressed that the Temelin nuclear plant does not use the same technology present in Chernobyl-type plants, but is based on design principles found in modern Western pressurized light-water reactors.
The Czech Utility CEZ will be paying for the nuclear safety improvements for the Temelin nuclear power plant. The Export-Import Bank has agreed to guarantee the loans needed by CEZ for financing the costs of the upgrades, which consist of improved fuel rods and a modern instrumentation and control
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The Honorable Bob Graham system. Both of these items will be provided by the Westinghouse Corporation.
Furthermore, the NRC has hired the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory to train the Czech regulatory authority staff on how to conduct a safety review of the upgraded plant in accordance with NRC licensing procedures.
I trust this reply responds to your concerns.
Sincerely,
/
%R nes M. Ta or ecutive rector for Operations cc: G. Brown, DOT
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