THE REQUIREMENTS FOR CANNING FOREIGN RESEARCH REACTOR SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL

In accordance with the Record of Decision on a Nuclear Weapons Nonproliferation Policy Concerning Foreign Research Reactor Spent Nuclear Fuel (DOE, 1996a), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is implementing a 13-year program under which DOE accepts foreign research reactor spent nuclear fuel (SNF) containing uranium that was enriched in the United States, and whose export was licensed by the Atomic Energy Commission (before 1972) or the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (after 1972). The SNF is of varying age and condition. The transportation to and storage of the SNF at the DOE's receiving sites may require special packaging for some of this spent research reactor fuel. In response to a number of issues associated with the transportation of damaged fuel, the DOE has developed packaging criteria for transportation and storage of research reactor spent nuclear fuel and defmed \"failed\" for those purposes. The criteria incorporate a clear understanding of the unique characteristics of research reactor fuel, as well as the technical and regulatory issues associated with safe storage and transport.