Re: Excess WPu Disposition

["K. K. S. Pillay" <s_pillay@lanl.gov>]

Yes,  The Europeans have the capability.  Also, recognize that these
capabilities once migrated across the oceans and they have improved on it.

Siemens has a fuel fabrication plant in the US.  It was at the same
location there was a MOX plant operated during the late sixtees or early
seventies, which was decommissioned many years ago.  People who worked at
the MOX facility are still at Hanford.

The more serious problem is transferring WPu to a foreign country.
Recently, Los Alamos applied for a permit with NRC to transfer a small
amount of MOX fabricated from WPu to Canada for experiemntal irradiation.
All the antinukes in Washington opposed US transferring WPu to Canada.  At
least for now, this application was withdrawn.  Just imagine what happens
if you want to get WPu to Europe!

Sam Pillay
======


>You could add to your list that Europeans already have experience and
>the capability to recycle Pu and produce MOX fuel for reactors. One
>specific example that comes to mind is Siemens.  They already hold
>fuel contracts for several US nuclear power plants so after satisfying
>some national security concerns there knowledge/experience/capability
>could easily be used to produce MOX in the US. (They'd likely jump at
>the chance to increase their business.)  To question whether or not the
>US still has this capability seems to portray an attitude that says we
>have nothing to learn from people outside the US.
>
>Michael Baker
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>Michael C. Baker		       	  baker@groves.neep.wisc.edu
>Engineering Research Building
>1500 Engineering Drive
>Madison, WI  53706
>--------------------------------------------------------------------


Dr. K. K. S. Pillay
Nuclear Materials Technology Division
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Los Alamos, NM 87545 (USA)
Tel: (505)667-2556
Fax: (505)667-7966
e-mail: s_pillay@lanl.gov