IAEA / USA Interregional Training Course

" TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PREPARATIONS
REQUIRED FOR SHIPMENT OF RESEARCH REACTOR
SPENT FUEL TO ITS COUNTRY OF ORIGIN"

Course Overview and Objectives

This interregional training course on the "Technical and Administrative Preparations Required for Shipment of Research Reactor Spent Fuel to its Country of Origin" was organized by the International Atomic Energy Agency in cooperation with the Government of the United States through Argonne National Laboratory.

The purpose of the course was to provide participants with the technical, organizational and administrative information needed to prepare irradiated research reactor fuel for shipment to its country of origin.

The course was open to 40 participants from IAEA member States in all geographical regions. Priority was given to candidates from developing countries which possess spent research reactor fuel and which may be interested in its potential return to the country origin.

The course was held in January 1997, shortly after the Foreign Research Reactor Spent Nuclear Fuel Acceptance Policy was initiated by the United States on May 13, 1997. Under this Policy, the U.S. will accept aluminum-based and TRIGA spent research reactor fuel containing uranium enriched in the United States. Fuel irradiated prior to and during the 10 year policy period (ending on May 12, 2006) would be accepted for 13 years through May 12, 2009 to allow for cooling and shipping.

Perhaps Russia will adopt and implement a similar policy for research reactor fuel assemblies supplied by the Soviet Union in the past and by Russia today.