ML20135G011

Responds to 970501 Ltr to President Clinton & Vice President Gore Re Ban of Burning MOX Fuel in Commercial Nuclear Reactors & Transportation of Plutonium Potential for Environ Accidents or Theft

ML20135G011
Person / Time
Issue date:	06/20/1997
From:	Collins S NRC (Affiliation Not Assigned)
To:	Fox M AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
Shared Package
ML20135G013	List: ML20135G011
References
NUDOCS 9706240216
Download: ML20135G011 (6)

Text

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• j NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 3066MMm

• * * * * ,o June 20, 1997 I

Marcia Fox i 326 Valley Lane

Perrysburg, OH 43551

Dear Ms. Fox:

j Your letter of May 1,1997, to President Clinton and Vice President Gore was l referred to this agency for response. In your letter, you. urged the ban of

. burning mixed oxide fuel (MOX) in commercial nuclear reactors and expressed the concern that use of mixed oxide fuel would accelerate the aging of core.

} components. You also expressed concern about the transportation of plutonium, j particularly the potential for environmental accidents or theft.

! The nuclear reactors currently operating in the U.S. generally can operate 3 using uranium oxide or mixed (uranium-plutonium) oxide fuel. The decision to l refrain from using mixed oxide fuel in commercial nuclear power plants, made

in the late 1970s, reflected concerns about nuclear proliferation and the

] decision not to reprocess spent' fuel. The plutonium in mixed oxide fuel at

that time would have come from such reprocessing of spent fuel. It is impor-

tant to note that under DOE's current plutonium disposition proposal, the plutonium in mixed oxide fuel would come not from the reprocessing of spent l fuel, but from the dismantlement of excess nuclear warheads, and would have

the effect of reducing the U.S. inventory of weapons-grade plutonium. Based i on prior evaluations of the technical feasibility of using mixed oxide fuel, l with appropriate choice of fuel and control element design, commercial l reactors can safely burn mixed oxide fuel and there would be no appreciable l difference in the rate of aging between reactor components for cores burning j uranium oxide and those burning mixed uranium-plutonium oxide (M0X) fuels.

l In your letter, you also raised a concern with respect to the safety and i physical security arrangements for transporting plutonium in the form of M0X j fuel. With regard to safety, both NRC and Department of Transportation (DOT) i regulations would require M0X fuel to be shipped in a Type B package, which is

!. one designed to withstand severe accident conditions with only a minor release

of contents. The Commission remains confident that application of NRC and DOT i standards adequately protects public health and safety and the environment during transportation activities.

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With regard to physical protection requirements to protect special nuclear G 7-0)'

material from sabotage or theft during transit, we understand that DOE will use its safe, secure transport (SST) vehicles for these shipments. The SST

! vehicle and associated procedures are currently used to protect weapons-grade

nuclear materials during DOE transportation activities.

In its January 1997 Record of Decision, DOE announced a strategy for handling surplus plutonium that would' allow it to be encased in glass or ceramic l material for disposal in a geologic repository and would permit some of the

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i Marcia Fox June 20, 1997 commercial reactors, with subsequent disposal of spent fuel in a geologic l repository. While current U.S. nuclear policy is set by the Executive Branch '

and Congress, potential use of mixed oxide fuel at a particular commercial i nuclear reactor would likely require licensing action by the NRC and an associated opportunity for a public hearing.

We appreciate your interest in these issues and hope that this letter is helpful in addressing your concerns.

Sincerely, Samuel Coll irector M[ Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation

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Marcia Fox June 20, 1997 commercial reactors, with subsequent disposal of spent fuel in a geologic repository. While current U.S. nuclear policy is set by the Executive Branch and Congress, potential use of mixed oxide fuel at a particular commercial nuclear reactor would likely require licensing action by the NRC and an associated opportunity for a public hearing.

We appreciate your interest in these issues and hope that this letter is helpful in addressing your concerns.

Sincerely, origiant signed w I

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vr J amuel S -J. ColTfns. Miraglia, Director Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation DISTRIBUTION: See next page DOCUMENT NAME: A:GT970432 Te moelve e sepy of this docueneset,Indosee in the ben: "C" = Copy wahout ettechment/ enclosure "E" = Copy with attachment / enclosure w . u...py ,

OFFICE PM:PGEB:DRPM l BC:SRXB:DSSA BC:PGEB:[$W lNMSS NAME JHWilson:sg( h s JLyons* DMay heq J F TSherr*

mum 06/17/p7 uuu nnn uueu 0FFICE OGC (A)D:DRPM.- 0:NRRg j NAME LChandler* MSlossonW K _ 6 DATE 06/19/97 06/ A /97 4 06/la/97 0FFICIAL RECORD COPY

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DISTRIBUTION: Letter to Marcia Fox. Dated: June 20, 1997 Docket: File PGEB R/F PUBLIC EDO GT970432 LCallan, 0-5 E6 HThompson, 0-5 E6 EJordan, 0-5'E6 PNorry, 0-5 E6 JB1aha, 0-5 E6 SBurns, 0-15 B18

-JFunches, CFO CPaperiello, T-8 A23 SCollins/FMiraglia, 0-12 G18 RZimmerman, 0-12 G18 TTMartin, 0-12 G18 WTravers, 0-14 D4 MMSlosson SWeiss .

DMatthews JHWilson l MThadani, 0-14 821 MBoyle (e-mail only MLB4) l OGC l OPA OCA.

BJSweeney, GT-970432 l NRR Mail room, GT-970432 HRichings, 0-8 E23 EEaston VPerrin l

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EDO Principal Correspondence Control 4

FROM: DUE: 06/20/97 _

EDO CONTROL: G970432 DOC DT: 05/01/97 FINAL REPLY:

4Marcia Fox Parry 3 burg, Ohio (Whita House Referral)

TO:

t Chairman Jackson

,/ c 4 a 17 FOR SIGNATURE OF : ** GRN ** CRC NO: 97-0578 Office Director --

DESC: ROUTING:

BURNING OF MIXED OXIDE IN COMMERCIAL NUCLEAR POWER Callan PLANTS / TRANSPORTATION OF PLUTONIUM Jordan Thompson Norry Blaha Burns DATE: 06/10/97 )cidn)LWip)M(

ASSIGNED TO: CONTACT: /#"" '"~ . '/5' 'f.,f '#"

aperiello, NMSS ggM-TYf ,t(& j NRR

_ Collins ~

J/ Au 1E9 m1 W SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS OR REMARKS: g 9,, , g . <r. .,

NMSS will provide input on the transportation of plutonium. 'Adu G7#M# "" N ih to NRR. (a ka ws M ' 15 U" NRR RECEIVED: JUNE 12,1997 NRR ACTION: ADPhMMME",M".N- b2^ ' 10 DN 0'4"j i' NRR ROUTING: COLLINS ACTION  !

l E$'^ DUE TO NRR DIRECTOR'S OFFICE SLOSSON  !

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OFFICE AF THE SECRETARY i CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET PAPER NUMBER: CRC-97-0578 LOGGING DATE: Jun 6 97  ;

' ACTION OFFICE: EDO AUTHOR: MARCIA FOX AFFILIATION: OHIO .

ADDRESSEE: PRES BILL CLINTON LETTER DATE: May 13 97 FILE CODE: M-20

SUBJECT:

BURNING OF MIXED OXIDE IN COMMERCIAL NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS l

ACTION: Direct Reply i DISTRIBUTION: CHAIRMAN q

SPECIAL HANDLING: SECY TO ACK CONSTITUENT:

NOTES:

WHITE HOUSE REFERRAL DATED 6/3/97 FM SUE SMITH DATE DUE: Jun 97 SIGNATURE:

ao DATE SIGNED:

AFFILIATION:

EDO -- G970432