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NRC proposes changes to its rules on nuclear materials
In response to Executive Order 14300, “Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,” the NRC is proposing sweeping changes to its rules governing the use of nuclear materials that are widely used in industry, medicine, and research. The changes would amend NRC regulations for the licensing of nuclear byproduct material, some source material, and some special nuclear material.
As published in the May 18 Federal Register, the NRC is seeking public comment on this proposed rule and draft interim guidance until July 2.
Kiyonobu Yamashita, Kazumi Tokuhara, Nozomu Fujimoto
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 126 | Number 1 | May 1997 | Pages 94-100
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.13182/NSE97-A24460
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A concept for a new reactor system is developed where weapons-grade plutonium can be made worthless for weapons use. It is a pebble bed-type high-temperature gas-cooled reactor that uses plutonium burner ball and thorium breeder ball fuels. The residual amount of 239Pu in spent plutonium balls becomes <1% of the initial loading. The power coefficient is made negative by reducing the parasitic neutron absorption reaction rate of l35Xe.