Reference Documents Concerning the RERTR Program

"Schumer Amendment" to the Energy Policy Act of 1992

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H12103
October 5, 1992

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - HOUSE

CONFERENCE REPORT ON H. R. 776.
COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL ENERGY POLICY ACT

TITLE IX - UNITED STATES ENRICHMENT CORPORATION

SEC. 903. RESTRICTIONS ON NUCLEAR EXPORTS

(a) FURTHER RESTRICTIONS. --

(1) IN GENERAL. -- Chapter 11 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

SEC. 134. FURTHER RESTRICTIONS ON EXPORTS. --

a. The Commission may issue a license for the export of highly enriched uranium to be used as a fuel or target in a nuclear research or test reactor only if, in addition to any other requirement of this Act, the Commission determines that---

(1) there is no alternative nuclear reactor fuel or target enriched in the isotope 235 to a lesser percent than the proposed export, that can be used in the reactor;

(2) the proposed recipient of that uranium has provided assurances that, whenever an alternative nuclear reactor fuel or target can be used in that reactor, it will use that alternative in lieu of highly enriched uranium; and

(3) the United States Government is actively developing an alternative nuclear reactor fuel or target that can be used in that reactor.

b. As used in this section--

(1) the term 'alternative nuclear reactor fuel or target' means a nuclear reactor fuel or target which is enriched to less than 20 percent in the isotope U-235;

(2) the term 'highly enriched uranium' means uranium enriched to 20 percent or more in the isotope U-235; and

(3) a fuel or target 'can be used' in a nuclear research or test reactor if--

(A) the fuel or target has been qualified by the Reduced Enrichment Research and Test Reactor Program of the Department of Energy, and

(B) use of the fuel or target will permit the large majority of ongoing and planned experiments and isotope production to be conducted in the reactor without a large percentage increase in the total cost of operating the reactor.

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT. - The table of contents of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 is amended by adding at the end of the items relating to Chapter 11 the following new item:

Sec 134. Further restrictions on exports.

(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS. ---

(1) IN GENERAL. - Not later than 90 days after the enactment of this Act, the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, after consulting with other relevant agencies, shall submit to the Congress a report detailing the current disposition of previous United States exports of highly enriched uranium, including-

(A) their location;
(B) whether they are irradiated;
(C) whether they have been used for the purpose stated in their export license; and
(D) whether they have been used for an alternative purpose and, if so, whether such alternative purpose has been explicitly approved by the Commission.

(2) EXPORTS TO EURATOM - To the maximum extent possible, the report required by paragraph (1) shall include---

(A) exports of highly enriched uranium to EURATOM; and
(B) subsequent retransfers of such material within EURATOM, without regard to the extent of United States control over such retransfers.