CELEX: 51979PC0087
Language: en
Date: 1979-03-01
Title: PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION FOR A RESEARCH AND TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR THE EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY ON THE PLUTONIUM CYCLE AND ITS SAFETY (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (79) 87
Vol. 1979/0028
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 ---pagebreak---           COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                     COM(79)87 final
                                                     Brussels , 8th March 1979
                         PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION FOR A
                        RESEARCH AND TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR THE
                        EUROPEAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMUNITY ON THE
                             PLUTONIUM CYCLE AND ITS SAFETY
                    ( submitted to the Council by the Commission )
                                         /*: •  - -
                                         te -   * • ..
                                              V
COM ( 79 ) 87 final
 ---pagebreak---                            - 1 -
1 « Introduction
    On 17 December 1974 "the Counoil adopted a research and training programme
    on plutonium recycling in light-water reactors . This four-year ( 1975-79 )
    programme ( OJ N°349 °f 28 December 1974 » p.6l ) was extended for a
    year by the Council Decision of 10 October 1978 ( OJ L 291/17 of 17
    October 1978)#
    In order to ensure that this programme has the best possible chances
    of success , the Commission has been guided by the opinions of the Ad­
    visory Committee on Programme Management , set by the Council , and of
    many groups of experts .   The programme has given rise to useful
    consultations and has enabled high-quality work to be carried out
    at minimum cost as a result of the frequent use of the Community
    invitation-to-tender system .
    A number of information meetings for the contractors under the
    programme , intended to ensure effective dissemination of the results
    obtained , have been held , and will again be held in 1979 » under
    Commission auspices .
    In view of the very significant results obtained in the 1975-79
    programme , the Commission feels that the knowledge already acquired
    at Community level should be increased by a more extensive programme
    concentrating on the safety of the plutonium fuel cycle and covering
   the period 1980-84 *
 ---pagebreak---                             - 2 -
                                                                    χ
2 * Results obtained and anticipated from the 1975-79 programme
    Under this programme it has been possible to perform the following
    work :
    a) In_the_context_of general jstudiefj relating_to the use of_j?lutonium_
       – On the basis of a forward analysis of the use of plutonium
           in the Community (published in 1976 and updated in 1977 ) i*
           has been possible to prepare a reference scenario in which
           some 15 tonnes of plutonium would be recycled annually in about
           40 LWR power stations in the Community towards the end of the
           twentieth century *
       – An analysi-s of the environmental impact of plutonium recycling
           was made in the context of an industrial development hypothesis
           in line with the reference scenario ; this study covers each
           stage of the plutonium cycle : transport , fuel fabrication,
           plutonium-fuelled LWR power stations and reprocessing of plu­
           tonium fuels ; it also included an assessment of the radiolo­
           gical impact on workers and the general public * It thus forms the first
         overall forward       analysis on a Community scale of the environ­
          mental impact of the use of plutonium * The study was carried
          out under about fifteen contracts and the Comiaission departments
          are to prepare a summary review ; the preliminary results show
          that in the relevant industrial development context the radio­
           logical impact on both workers and the general public remains
          within the limits set by current radiation protection standards *
          The study also made it possible to pinpoint research and develop­
          ment fields that will help to reduce still further the radio­
          logical impact of plutonium recycling*
       – Various research projects have been launched with the aim of
          improving plutonium transport ol* storage conditions * The
          knowledge acquired in the oourse of this research should
          enable more reliable transport containers to be developed *
          The results of these projeots will be reported or published
          in 1979.'
          A detailed account of the results obtained is given in the
          annual progress reports for 1976 ( EUR 5780)» 1977 ( EaJR 6002 )
          and 1978 ( to be published )*
 ---pagebreak---                              - 3 -
b ) In the context of_the improvement_of sci^enti.fi^c_and_techni^cal_data
    on_p2.u^°nium_rec^;cl:ing_in light water reactors_
    - Knowledge of the neutron physics of the higher isotopes of plu-
       toniuni and tranBplutonium elements is being increased by means of :
       An experimental programme to measure the cross sections of the
       isotopes selcted following critical studies of specific require­
      ments in LWR power stations® The results will be available in 1979 }
      A series of isotopic analyses of fuels irradiated in power sta­
      tions , the results of which will be reported in 1979 ?
      The basic experimental data that will be obtained are essential
      to the correct prediction of the plutonium balance in LWR power
      stations® However , this series will not provide a sufficient number
      of isotopic analyses of fuels irradiated to high burn-ups of the
     order of 300 000 MWd/t .
   - A comparison of neutron computation codes geared to plutonium-
     fuelled LWR power stations has been carried out free of charge
     and on their own initiative by the main Community code holders .
     This was reported in a summary review in 1978 . This Commission
     activity has established fruitful contacts between the main Com­
     munity code holders .
   - The studies on the control and safety of LWR power stations using
     plutonium fuels consist of :
     • A theoretical part covering the control and safety of plutonium-
          fuelled power stations ( static and dynamic aspects of the
         stations , fuel -handling and storage problems , major accident
         analysis ).
      • An experimental part intending to improve knowledge of the
        neutron physics of plutonium fuel assemblies ( power distri­
        bution , reactivity coefficients ).
        This work started in 1977 and will be completed in 1979 *
        The results available to date indicate that on the whole there
        is a good knowledge and mastery of the speoific problems involved
        in the control and safety of LWR power stations recycling the
         plutonium they produce ( self-recycling) .
 ---pagebreak---                             - 4 -
    - Plutonium fuel post-irradiatxon examinations have "been con­
      ducted in two stages :
      e An initial set of projects was launched in 1975 and 1976$
          these cover examinations of plutonium fuel assemblies irra­
          diated in the power stations at Mol in Belgium ( BR-3 ) ,
         Garigli-ano in Italy , Lingen in Germany and Dodewaard in
         the Netherlands and of fuel pins fabricated "by the Vibrasol
         technique irradiated in the HFR at Petten in the Fetherlands e
         The results of this work will be available in 197 9 » they
         already indicate that plutoniuia fuels have a aimilar beha­
        viour to uranium fuels .
     • A second set of projects was launched in 1978 on fuels either
       : irradiated to high burn-ups or representative of a mere recent
        technology . These projects cover post-irradiation examinations
        of fuels irradiated in the Garigliano , BR~3 » Dodewaard and Sena
       power stations *
       The results of the second part will not be available before
       the end of 1979 °r "tho beginning of 1980#
 Summarizing, this programme ;
– has encouraged the exchange of information and dissemination of
   results in the Community « This has come about either during the
   preparation of the studies and projects to be undertaken , carried
   out in close collaboration with ad hoc groups of experts , or
   during the evaluation of results at "briefisg meetings organized
  by the Commission for the contract holders , the ad hoo groups
  of experts and the members of the ACPMj
- has prevented duplication of effort by defining precise projects
  in close collaboration with the members of the ACFM or ad hoc
  groups of expert So Frequent use of the Community invitation-to-
  tender procedure has enabled the programme $6 be carried out at
  minimum cost while at the same time ensuring coordinated distri­
  bution of the work amongst Ooiawunity laboratories s
 ---pagebreak---                              - 5 -
     – has effectively improved knowledge of the behaviour of plu­
        tonium fuels in LWR power stations and will provide the Euro­
        pean Community with an assessment of the impact on the environ­
       ment and on man of plutonium recyling in LWR power stations
        ( likely industrial development situation at the end of this
       century). Prom those two aspects , the current programme has
       not identified any obstacles to industrial development in
       this field .
3 . Objectives for an indirect action programme covering the years 1980-
    84 i Safety of the plutonium fuel cycle
    Reprocessing of fuels irradiated in power stations equipped with
    gas/graphite reactors ( United Kingdom , ' France and Italy ) has been
    in operation for some years ? those fuels are and will be for several
    years the main source of plutonium a
    The decision already taken in several Community Member States to
    reprocess irradiated fuels from LWR power stations ( The Hague ,
    plant in operation ? Windsoale ( Thorp project )j WAfC, plant in opera­
   tion ? indicate that the quantities of plutonium thus recovered in
   the Community will be appreciable , of the order of 20 tonnes per
   year in 1990 *
   The radiological characteristics of the plutonium to be processed
   in the near future will be lees favourable than at present , Eince
   the quantity of plutonium from metal fuels irradiated to low levels
   of burn-up in gas/graphite reactors will gradually fall in comparison
   to the plutonium from oxide fuels irradiated to high levels of burn­
   ups in light-water reactors#
   The main objective of the programme is to ensure safety in the use
   of plutonium as a nuclear fuel so as to enable all those involved
   ( parlamentarians , governments and industry) to determine their atti­
   tude ;to the use of plutonium fuels with a full knowledge of the
   facts .
   The Commission for its part felt that this aim should be supported
   by a greater commitment to the use of plutonium , ■ a subject already
   covered in document COM(77 ) 331 final "Points for a Community stra­
   tegy on the reprocessing of irradiated nuolear fuels "*
 ---pagebreak---  Apart from the main purpose fo the programme set out above , "there
 are other specific aims :
- to conduct studies and research on alternative technologies
   which may offer a greater inherent safety than the conventional
   technologies ,
- to help demonstrate that the fissile and fertile materials in
   UOg-PuOg fuels irradiated in LWR power stations can be recovered
   and recycled in power stations equipped with fast-breeder and
   thermal reactors ;
- to complement the work carried out under the first programme on
   the behaviour of LWR power stations using mixed oxide fuels#
Outline of the 1980-84 programme
In order to achieve these objectives , the Commission proposes
that the following programme , divided into five main projects chosen
in consultation with the Advisory Committee on programme Management
in accordance with the Counoil Resolution of 18 July 1977 ( OJ c 192
of 11 August 1977 ) j   carried out within a Community framework .
 ---pagebreak---                              - 7 -
Pro .i eet 1T°1 General Studies
These studies will provide a theoretical framework for assessing all the
work carried out under the programme They oover :
( a) Analyses of strategies for the use of plutonium in thermal and fast­
      "breeder reactors
      These studies will involve the periodic updating of the plutonium
      availability forecasts published in 1976 and 1977 » examination of
      the various possible strategies in the Community for using the
      plutonium available    ( PBR and LWR power stations ) and analysis
      of the difficulties involved# ■
( b ) Assessments of the impact on the environment of plutonium recycling
      The assessment of the environmental impact of plutonium recycling
      in LWR    power stations carried out during the 1975-79 programme should
      be supplemented , especially in order to evaluate the progress
      achieved in improving the safety of the plutonium fuel cycle®
      These studies will include an examination of the ways and means of
      compiling within the l/Jtumunity comparable statistics on the health
      of workers in the plutonium industry and on the extenlt of the
      radiological pollution of the environment by that industry in general .
       ( in collaboration with the research programme on radiation protection).
( c ) Other general studies
      Some other general studies could prove useful for effective
      management of the programme, for example, a summary or assessment
      of work done outside the Community programme , an analysis of which
      would be Valuable as regards the general lines of the programme .
                                                            \
The Commission 's financial contribution to the general studies is
estimated et :       800 000 EUA«
                                         . i:
                                           i
 ---pagebreak---                                - 8 -
Project IT" 2o    Research and development work relating to the safety
                  in the field of mixed-oxide fuel fabrication
This work should help solve the problems resulting from the increase in
the production capacity of the fabrication units and the foreseable
evolution of the radiological characteristics of the plutonium to be
processed , while ensuring that these operations have the highest level
of safety .
These projects will include :
  ( a) Work of général relevance on :
        The imgrovement of radiation protection for personnel and the
        environment in_m±xed–oxide_fuel fabrication urdts;_thijg will_
        involve , among other things :
        . development of fire-resistant filters and neutron shields :
      ι                                 !
      ( o comparison of methods of evaluating accidents . applied during the
          safety analyses of fuel fabrication plants aad, acquisition of
          reference data to back up these evaluations ;
        o improvement of neutron dosimetry and the monitoring of the
          atmosphere in fabrication plants ;
        • development of systems to reduoe glovebox contamination ;
        • development of techniques for detecting residual fissile
          materials in order to forestall incidents and accidents
          and developemnt of automated techniques for measuring the
          fissile materials present in production lines in order to
          improve accounting and safeguards procedures#
 ---pagebreak---                               - 9 -
( b ) Work "to assess the potential of alternative techniques
       The Value in developing these alternative techniques lies in their
       potential ability to reduce radioactive pollution ( elimination from
       the fabrication process of any plutonium oxide powder stage - a
       particularly intricate stage ) and the fact that they avoid separa­
       tion of plutonium from uranium during fuel fabrication#       This work
       will consist in :
       ( i ) assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of alternative
             techniques ( based on sol-gel or other processes ) in relation to
             existing techniques based on the powder-pelletization process .
             These studies will be continued throughout the programme in
             order to incorporate all the technological data obtained and
             will include a general comparative analysis of these techniques
             on the assumption that they are used in a reference plant on an
             industrial scale *
     ( ii-) Laboratory development tests to acquire the further data still
            needed to master these technologies so as to weigh them up
             against existing techniques on a comparable technical basis .
             In particular work on the sol-gel processes will be designed
            to master the techniques for the preparation of uranium and
            plutonium oxide granules or microspheres from a mixture of
            plutonium and uranium nitrates , the recycling of recoverable
            materials ( minimization of the quantities of plutonium-
            contaminated waste for later processing and the conversion
            of the granules into fuel pellets with a view to assessing
            their characteristics ,   ( irradiation tests on these samples
            tinder representative power-reactor conditions are not included
     !      in this programme ). These laboratory tests must , in addition, ■
            provide all the information still required for the design and
            operation of equipment on the assumption that it is incorporated
            in the reference plant on an industrial scale referred to above .
 ---pagebreak---                           - 10
The total financial contribution by the Coraaunity to this
project is estimated at :
( a ) Work of général relevance                  2 <»5 m EuA
( b ) Work on alternative processes              4»5 ® EUA
                                    Total        7     m EUA
 ---pagebreak---                             - 11 -
 Project IT0 3 Research and development work on plutonium transport
 ( unwrou;?ht plutonium and plutonium fuels * )
The aim of these projects is to ensure "better safety and improve conditions
for the transport and handling of plutonium (unwrought plutonium and
plutonium fuels)# This aim will be achieved by preparing at Community
level test specifications for the design of air-transport containers
and by designing and producing containers suitable for the shipment of
substantial quantities of plutonium or plutonium fuels#       These projects
form a logical sequel to the work      carried out during the first programme
and will enable it to be continued in depth *
The R&D studies and work will include :
( a) Basic research on container design
     This work will comprise some studies and basic experiments necessary
      for the design of containers :
      • Execution of a criticality bench mark experiment with a view to ;
        validating the criticality codes used 'for the safety assessment
        of containers for transporting plutonium fuels for power stations
        equipped with thermal or fast-breeder reactors j
      • an experimental programme to support and harmonize at Community level
        the specifications for the tests ( studied during the first
        programme ) to which air–transport containers will have to be
        subjected#
        This harmonization will be carried out in agreement with the
        competent authorities of the Member States ;
      • compilation of a reference manual containing the principal data
        ( contamination potential , residual heat , activity) of the unirra­
        diated and irradiated fuels for thermal and fast-breeder reactors
        taken into account for the container project#
 ---pagebreak---                               - 12 -
( b ) Container development
      This work i8 concerned with the development of containers , the
      prototypes of which will constitute European references . Depending
      on the individual case , the projects will extend up to the
      construction of prototypes or will "be limited to feasibility
      studies .
        The following containers will be developed :
        - container with a high payload ( about 30 kg ) for the surface
          transport of plutonium ( plutonium oxide , granules and mixtures
          of uranium and plutonium oxides );
        - containers for the carriage of more than two unirradiated fuel
          assemblies for light-water reactors .
          The programme of work for these two types of containers includes
          design studies , construction of the mock-ups required for the
          tests and development of the prototypes to serve as European
          references .
        - container for the carriage of plutonium by air .
          It is planned to develop a container for the carriage of plutonium
          by air , the main feature of which will be its ability to withstand
          the tests mentioned above .   The work entailed will consist first
          of an analysis of the behaviour of existing containers subjected
          to these tests .  Then depending on the results , steps will be
          taken to improve these containers or to develop a new prototype
          so as to obtain a container satisfying these tests .
          The design of containers for the carriage by air of unirradiated
          fuel assemblies for thermal and fast–breeder reactors will be the
          subject of feasibility studies .
        - Various primary containment vessels for fuels irradiated in fast-
          breeder reactors will be studied and their sealing systems
          developed .
 ---pagebreak---                           - 13 -
  ( c ) The mechanization of the handling of unwrought Plutonium
         containers
        The aim of these projects is to minimize the exposure to
        radiation of workers at the reprocesing plant or fuel-ele­
        ment fabrication plant who are engaged in filling or emptying
        the primary containment vessels and loading or unloading
        these vessels in and out of the transport containers • The
       work will involve a design study and the construction and
       testing of prototypes of the mechanisms and equipment needed
       to carry our these operations automatically .
       Consultations will take place at Communtiy level among fuel
       reprocessors , carriers and manufacturers to determine in ad­
       vance the main features of this equipemnt so as to provide a
       European reference .
( d ) The transfer of plutonium nitrate within integrated sites
       The transfer of plutonium nitrate by pipeline will very pro­
       bably be the most widely used means of transport within inte­
       grated sites . However y a feasibility study will be necessary
       to assess the merits of this choice . The work will consist of
       a study of the various pipeline configuration, an evaluation
       of the risks involved and an analysis of the advantages and
       disadvantages fo this transfer system compared with carriage
       in containers and with pneumatic transfer .
       The financial contribution by the Community to these projects
    ' is estimated at :      3*3 m EUA.
                                         1
        I
 ---pagebreak---                           - 14 -
 Project_n®4 Research and development work on the balanced recycling
               in  FBR ' and LWR power stations of UO^-PuO,.. fuels irradiated
                                 r                   ii   1}
               in LWR power stations
 It is estimated that by the end of 1979 there will be some 15 tonnes
 of plutonium fuels irradiated in LWR stations and held in power
 station station cooling ponds awaiting reprocessing.
The aim of the proposed work is to demonstrate , on a significant scale ,
that these fuels do not represent unusable waste but that the fissile
 and fertile materials which they contain can be recovered and re-used
 and that the radioactive waste extracted can be conditioned and disposed
 of in the same way as conventional radioactive waste .
These demonstration projects should enable electricity produoers to
 assess the technological and industrial practicability of plutonium
recycling in the context of the two reactor- concepts , fast-breeder and
thermal#
The recovery and re-use of plutonium from irradiated mixed UOg-PuO^
fuels differ from the recovery and re-use of plutonium from uranium-
oxide fuels irradiated in LWR power stations#     Among the reasons for
this , mention may be made of the following :
– the considerable total plutonium content , particularly rich in
   higher plutonium isotopes , and the considerable content of trans-
   plutonium elements ( Am and Cm ) affect the transport and reprocessing
   of these irradiated fuels , the transport af the plutonium recovered ,
   refabrication of the fuels and, lastly, their re-use $
– the structure of the mixed UO^-PuOg ' fuels, which differs from that
   of the uranium-oxide fuels , has an effect on the solubility of the
  plutonium-oxide particles during the reprocessing of these fuels#
 ---pagebreak---                         - 15 -
In order to study the problems of second-generation plutonium recycling
 in their various operational aspects , the Commission intends to take part
 in a number of concerted demonstration exercises involving the recycling
 of plutonium contained in UOg–PuO^ fuels which have undergone prior
 irradiation in light-water reactors . This recycling will have to be
 carried out , in a balanced manner , in the context of the fast-breeder
 and thermal ( LWR power stations ) reactor concepts .
 It is proposed that two or three practical fuel-assembly reconstitution
 exercises be adopted . The first would involve recycling in a fast-
breeder react oy the second in a pressurized–water reactor and the
third in a boiling-water reactor .
The amount of fissile plutonium needed would probably be about 15 kg
 for all three exercises .
These projects will cover the following aspects :
- transport of irradiated UO^-PuO^ fuelj
- reprocessing of the irradiated UO^-PuO^ fuel, including determination
   of the characteristics    of the radioactive waste ;
- design calculation for reloading into the reactor ( reactivity coefficient ,
   americium effect ) :
– fuel reiabrication ;
– transport of the refabricated fuel ;
- monitoring of the fuel irradiations and isotopic analyses ( at a
   later stage if desired );
- analysis of the environmental impact of this recycling by comparison
   with first-generation recycling.
A summary review of all these projects will be compiled .
                                        I
The financial contribution by the Commission to these projects
is estimated at :   3*5 m EUA.
 ---pagebreak---                              - 16 -
* £r°j®2i_¥f5 Research and development work on •the "behaviour of LWR power
               stations using mixed-oxide fuels
 The aim of this work is to supplement and complete the project carried
  out during the first programme with a view to improving knowledge on
 the safety of these stations and the radiation "behaviour of mixed-oxide
 fuels .
 ( a) Safety_and_radiological imgact_on the environment of_these_power_
      stations
      This work will cover the study of typical incidents and accidents
      which were not studied during the first programme and tests on the
      dynamic behaviour of mixed fuels     ( interaction between fuel and
      cladding) during rapid power transients } to ensure it. follows the
      right lines , this work will be preceded by an analytical review of
      the present state of the art in this field ,
(b) Post-irradiat ion_examinations of mixed_fuels_irradiated ifi_LWR_powGr_
      stations *
      This work will include technological examinations and isotopic analyses
      of fuels selected on the basis of the potential information they are
      likely to provide ( e«g«, fuel representing a recent fabrication
      technology, high burnup) « A comparison of the analysis results obtained
      by various Community laboratories will also be organised#
      Throughout the programme , there will be analytical reviews indicating
      the progress in the knowledge obtained*
       The financial contribution by the Commission to this work
       is estimated at :    2*3 m EUA .
   Acceptance by the Community of responsibility for the expenditure
   inherent in this work is conditional on the joint agreement of the
   fuel supplier .and electricity producer to guarantee the availability
   of sufficient data for the proper understanding of the tests and
   examinations , without prejudice to the industrial and commercial
   interests of the parties involved *
          h                          i
 ---pagebreak---  Budget and ctaff
 The Commission thus proposes to participate by way of contracts in
 the following main projects , as described above t
 Project N°1 s General studies                              0,8 m EUA
 Project N°2 : Safety of plutonium fuel fabrication       ■ 7,0 ™ EtTA
 Project N°3 : Transport of plutonium and
               plutonium fuels                               3» 3 m EUA
 Project N°4 ! Recycling in fast-breeder and
               thermal reactors of fuel irradiated
               in LWR power stations                        3«5 ® SUA
 Project N°5 : Behaviour of LWR power stations
               using mixed-oxide fuel                       2*3 m EUA
                                           Total :      16*9 m WA
The contribution planned for each project is given as a guide and may
be modified while the programme is under way in order to allow for
the results obtained , technical development and changes in the order
of priority .
The scientific and technical staff required to monitor the implementation
of this programme is estimated to be *
        4 Category A
        3 Category B
        2 Category C
This personnel will include the staff of three ( 2A + IB ) now assigned
to the 1975~79 plutonium recycling programme which will have to be
increased to cope with the greater workload under the proposed
programme^
 ---pagebreak---                              - 18 -
 This staff' s main task will be to handle the scientific management of
 the programme , including the detailed definition of the projects , in
 collaboration with experts .   The preparation of precise specifications
                                   • I
 for the studies to be carried out , the equipment to be developed or
 the research and development to be done is a difficult task calling
 for close consultation , but is fundamental and indispensable in order
 to ensure that the programme will be fully effective#
 This will guarantee both that the work carried out at Community level
 dovetails perfectly with Member State projects whilst avoiding dupli­
 cation and that the work is done to best advantage by calling on the
 Community 's most competent teams , chosen by means of Community wide
 invitations to tender .
The other tasks of this staff will be :
- to organize invitations to tender and to examine the tenders to
   select contractors :
– to hold meetings of experts :
– to diraft contracts and monitor their performance from the technical
   and scientific aspects ;
– to hold meetings of the Management Committee ;
– to ensure that the results are disseminated , especially by drafting
   annual progress reports and periodically holding information meetings
This staff must be assigned to the programme throughout its duration .
This staff requirement makes allowances for the scientific support pro­
vided by the JRC .
The overall budget is evaluated ■      20 m TStJA; it inoludes • contract
expenditure , staff expenditure, and administrative expenditure.
6 . .Advisory Committee on Programme Management - Programme review
    In order to ensure that each of the operations to be initiated is as
    consistent as possible , the Commission proposes , as in the past , to
    be guided by the opinions of the Advisory Committee on Programme
    Management .  The programme will be Reviewed at the end of the second
    year and , to that end , a progress report will be prepared for the
    European Parliament add the Council .
        i
 ---pagebreak---                               - 19 -
7 . Dissémination of information
    In -the dissemination of information, priority will "be given to all
    Commission contractors under the plutonium-utilization programme a
    To that end , the required secondment of staff "between contractors
    working on the same major project will be facilitated and information
    meetings will "be held periodically by the Commission for the benefit
    of all the contractors ,.
    All the results will then be communicated pursuant to Article 13 of
    the Euratom Treaty and , in particular , the general results not
    prejudicing the know-how or special technical knowledge of the
    contracting parties will be published ^
8# Conclusions
    Having regard to the arguments set out above , the Commission requests
    the Council to adopt the attached programme decision*
 ---pagebreak---                                                                   ANNEX 1
              PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION ADOPTING A RESEARCH
               AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR THE EUROPEAN ATOMIC
                  ENERGY COMMUNITY ON THE PLUTONIUM CYCLE
                               AND ITS SAFETY
                   ( NUCLEAR INDIRECT-ACTION PROGRAMME)
                                1980-84
  THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
  Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy
  Community, and in particular Article ^ thereof }
  Having regard to the proposal from the Commission submitted after
  consultation with the Scientific and Technical Committee ;
  Having regard to the Opinion of the European Parliament ;
  Having regard to the Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee ;
■ Whereas , in view of the very significant results obtained so far in
  the programme on the recycling of plutonium in light–water reactors
  ( 1975–79 ) * the knowledge already acquired at Community level should
  be increased so as to ensure maximum safety in the use of plutonium ,
  HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION :
                              Article 1    i
  A research and development programme on the plutonium cycle and its safety,
  set out in the Annex , is hereby adopted for a period of five years from
  1 January 19$0» The Annex forms an integral part of this Deoision*
         ;                           »:   r
  *    OJ N° 1 394/61,   26.12.1974
 ---pagebreak---                                                       ANNEX 1 ( continued )
                         Article 2
 The total requirements for the complete duration of the programme
 are estimated at 20 million European units of account and nine staff ,
 the unit of account being that defined in Article 10 of the Financial
 Regulation of 21 December 1977 * These figures are given solely as a
 guide .
                         Article 3
The programme set ou_t in the Annex shall ba reviewed not later than
the end of the second year *
                         Done at Brussels .
                         Por the Council
                         Por The President
                                       :
 ---pagebreak---                          ANNEX 1
   The main purpose of the programme is to ensure maximum safety
   in the use of plutonium as a nuclear fuel *
   The programme covers areas relevant to the use of plutonium
. both in thermal and in fast-breeder reactors ; it includes
  studies and research and development work on :
  – expert reports on environmental impact and other work of
     general interest associated with plutonium use :
  – safety of plutonium fuel fabrication .
  – transport of plutonium and plutonium fuels ,
 – recycling in fast-breeder and thermal ( light-water ) reaotors
    of fissile materials reoovered from plutonium fuels previously
    irradiated in light-water reactors ,
 – behaviour of plutonium–fuelled LWR power stations *
 This programme will be carried out by way of contracts *
 ---pagebreak---                          FINANCIAL RECORD
1 . RELEVANT BUDGET HEADING
    - Item     î  3355
    - Heading:    The plutonium cycle and its safety aspects .
1.1 . TITLE OP THE PROJECT
      The plutonium cycle and its safety aspects .
2 . LEGAL BASIS
    Application of Article 7 of the Treaty establishing the EAEC * .
 3 . DESCRIPTION OP THE PROJECT
3.1 . Description
      This programme may to a certain extent be considered a conti­
      nuation and development of the Programme on Plutonium Recycling
       in Light-Water Reactors covering the period 1975-79 ( programme
      decisions, of 17 December 1974 ( OJ L 349/74) and of 10 October
       1978 ( OJ L 291/78 ).
      The new programme covers areas which help to ensure maximum
       safety of the plutonium cycle in thermal and faBt-breeder reac­
      tors , and includes studies and R&D work on :
      - Assessment of the environmental impact and other aspects
         of general interest associated with the plutonium cycles
      - safety of plutonium fuel fabrications
      - transport of plutonium and plutonium fuels ;
      - recycling in fast-breeder and thermal ( light-water ) reactors
         of fissile materials recovered from plutonium fuels irradiated
       I                           1,1
         in light-water reactors ;
      - behaviour of plutonium-fuelled light-water reactors .
      This project , which is to be carried out under contracts ,
       supplements the programme undertaken in the various Member
       States .
 ---pagebreak---                   3»2 « Objective
                         The aim of the progr^rae ie to ensure maximum safety in the
                          use of plutonium as a nuolear fuel so as to enable all those
                          involved ( parlamentariann , governments and industry ) to
                          support their attitude to the uae of plutonium fuels in roao-
                          tore with a full knowledge of' the faots .
                     4 . JUSTIFICATION OF THE PROJECT
                          - Safety in the uae of plutonium as a nuolear fuel }
                          - Industriel and energy policy ;
                          - Rational utilization of plutonium so ao to reduce
                              enriched uranium needs .
                     5 . FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROJECT IN RESPECT OF THE
                         INTERVENTION APPROPRIATIONS
                         ( including staff expenditure and administrative and technical
                           operating expenditure )
                 5.1 »   Overall cost for the whole of the expactad duration
                         of the pro.ject :                  approximately     35 œ FJJA
                 5o2 »   Char/?oable to ;
                         - Community budget                                      20ç000«000    EJUA
                         - National budgets                                   ( approximately
                         - Other sectors at national levol                    ( 15 id E5M
                 5®3 »   Hultiarmual tiiretablø
                                Appropriations for commitment
                            :    1                                             ]                i
I Type of     |                        1961       1982            1983                1984      |   Tot al
  expenditure      1980         j
   Staff            446,450           469,500      494,700         519,200           545,000         £,475,'l rO.
   Admin •            92,550           101.500     110 , 300       115,200           135,000            554,550
   operation
   Contract e     3,000,000         4,000,000     4,000,000      4,000,000            970, 000      16, 970, 000
   Total
                [3
                L
                   ,539,000       !
                                    4,571,000
                                               I
                                                  4,605,000
                                                              I
                                                                 4 , 63*7,000      2,650 , 000     20^000^000
 ---pagebreak---                                                     - 3 -
                5*3«1«2 *     Appropriations for payment
Type of
expenditure
                1980          1981             1982          1983         1984    1985      Total
Staff         446,450       469,500           494,700       519,800     545,000            2,475,450
Admin ,
operation      92,550       101,500            110,300      115,200     135,000              554,550
Contract a  1,000,000   3,000,000           4,000,000     4,000,000  3,000,000  1,970,000 16,970,000
                                        1
Total       1,539,000 ! 3,571,000           4,605,000     4,635,000   3,680,000 1,970,000 20,000,000
            ––M–J
                S.3.2 ,   Method of oaloulation
                           ( a) Staff expenditure
                                 Staffing needs have been oaloulated en the basis of a
                                 staff of 9 for the programs, i.e.i
                                              4 Category A officials ;
                                              3 Category B offiolalB {
                                              2 Category 0 officials .
                ■                In addition to these figures , the oaloulations take
                                 into aooouot the CoBmission staff salary-inoreas* rates
                                 used for estimating the appropriations entered in ths
                                 1979 Budget ; for the period 1980-82 an increase in
                                 volume corresponds to the trend in the general level
                                 of those prioes in the Community whioh have been se­
                                 lected for arriving at the three-yearly estimates for .
                                 this period , namely the following ratesi 1980t 1.065 ,
                                 I98I1 1.120, 1982 : 1.180. An increase of 6j£ per annum
                                 has been taken into ooneideration for 1983-84 .
                          ( b) Administrative and/or technical operating expenditure
                                This heading oovers in particular expenditure involved
                                in missions and the organization of meetings and re­
                                ceptions . The expenditure has been evaluated on ths
                                basis of ths staffing and finanoial requirements of
                                comparable programmes whioh arc already in progress ,
                                i.e. , approximately 15 meetings at 3600 SUA eaoh aid
                               70 missions at 400 KJA eaoh per year .
                                           !■        !'
                                          ;■         'I
                                                     IT
                                                                                               c,    J* .m ,-m
 ---pagebreak---                         - 4 -
    ( c ) Contract expenditure
          This heading covers the Community 's financial partici­
          pation in research conducted under shared-cost contracts
          ( studies , research work, etc ) which are to "be concluded
          with specialized firms and laboratories in the Member
          States . Since the type of subject and the contractors'
          qualifications Vary, it is not possible to establish a
          uniform method of calculation . Needs have been estimated
          by evaluating as accurately as possible the costs of the
          various technical studies and tasks involved in the pro­
          gramme in close collaboration with the national experts of
          the Advisory Committee on Programme Management responsible
          for the 1975-79 programme . It can be estimated that during
          this programme approximately 80 contracts will be nego­
          tiated with national bodies , specialized institutions
          and industrial firms , the Community 's average financial
          participation in these contracts being approximately 50$.
          At all events , the Advisory Committee on Programme Manage­
          ment responsible for this programme will be required to
          give its opinion on the use of the appropriations .
6. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS ON THE STAFF AND NORMAL OPERATING
    APPROPRIATIONS
    ( See section 5 above)       ,
                                I :
7 . FINANCING
7.4 . The appropriations required to cover Community participation
       in this project are to be entered in future budgets .
8 . IMPLICATIONS IN RESPECT OF REVENUE, IF ANY
    - Community tax on officials' salaries
    - Officials' contributions to the pension scheme .
 ---pagebreak--- TYPE OF COHTROL TO BE APPLIED
Scientific controlï   ACPM
                      Responsible officials in DO XII
Administrative control
By the Directorate-General for Pinanoial Control with
regard to implementation of the Budget and checking of
expenditure and "by the Administration of Contracts
Division of DG XII .