Abstracts and Available Papers Presented at the
2003 International RERTR Meeting

THE UNITED STATES FOREIGN RESEARCH REACTOR SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL ACCEPTANCE PROGRAM:
PROGRESS AT THE MIDPOINT

Charles E. Messick, Alex W. Thrower, James R. Wade

Foreign Research Reactor Spent Nuclear Fuel Acceptance Program
U. S. Department of Energy

ABSTRACT

The United States Department of Energy (DOE), in consultation with the Department of State (DOS), adopted the Nuclear Weapons Nonproliferation Policy Concerning Foreign Research Reactor Spent Nuclear Fuel in May 1996. To date, the Foreign Research Reactor (FRR) Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF) Acceptance Program has completed 25 shipments. Over 5,500 spent fuel elements from eligible research reactors throughout the world have been accepted into the United States under this program. Shipments are continuing on schedule, although a climate of increased security now exists following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Shipments of all types of radioactive material, both internationally and within the United States, are encountering greater public scrutiny and generally increased security and physical protection. The Acceptance Program has now reached the approximate midpoint of its duration; the current Acceptance Policy will expire in 2009 (fuel must not be irradiated after May 12, 2006). As the Acceptance Program draws closer to its termination date, an increased number of requests for program extension have been received. Currently, there are no plans to extend the policy beyond its current expiration date; therefore, eligible reactor operators interested in participating in this program are strongly encouraged to evaluate their inventory and plan for future shipments as soon as possible.

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