Opinion ID: 407564
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Presidential Concern About Reprocessing

Text: 177 The lethal character of plutonium and its potential for use in nuclear bombs evoked expressions of concern from two successive Presidents, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, about the reprocessing of nuclear waste and the separation of bomb-grade plutonium. This concern resulted in April 1977 in a Presidential statement, issued by President Carter, suspending all NRC plans for reprocessing spent nuclear fuel. This statement reads: 178 There is no dilemma today more difficult to resolve than that connected with the use of nuclear power. Many countries see nuclear power as the only real opportunity, at least in this century, to reduce the dependence of their economic well-being on foreign oil-an energy source of uncertain availability, growing price, and ultimate exhaustion. The U.S., by contrast, has a major domestic energy source-coal-but its use is not without penalties, and our plans also call for the use of nuclear power as a share in our energy production. 179 The benefits of nuclear power are thus very real and practical. But a serious risk accompanies worldwide use of nuclear power-the risk that components of the nuclear power process will be turned to providing atomic weapons. 180 We took an important step in reducing the risk of expanding possession of atomic weapons through the Non-Proliferation Treaty, whereby more than 100 nations have agreed not to develop such explosives. But we must go further. The U.S. is deeply concerned about the consequences for all nations of a further spread of nuclear weapons or explosive capabilities. We believe that these risks would be vastly increased by the further spread of sensitive technologies which entail direct access to plutonium, highly enriched uranium, or other weapons usable material. The question I have had under review from my first day in office is how can that be accomplished without forgoing the tangible benefits of nuclear power. 181 We are now completing an extremely thorough review of all the issues that bear on the use of nuclear power. We have concluded that the serious consequences of proliferation and direct implications for peace and security-as well as strong scientific and economic evidence-require 182 -a major change in U.S. domestic nuclear energy policies and programs; and 183 -a concerted effort among all nations to find better answers to the problems and risks accompanying the increased use of nuclear power. 184 I am announcing today some of my decisions resulting from that review. 185 First, we will defer indefinitely the commercial reprocessing and recycling of the plutonium produced in the U.S. nuclear power programs. From our own experience, we have concluded that a viable and economic nuclear power program can be sustained without such reprocessing and recycling. The plant at Barnwell, South Carolina, will receive neither Federal encouragement nor funding for its completion as a reprocessing facility. 186 Second, we will restructure the U.S. breeder reactor program to give greater priority to alternative designs of the breeder and to defer the date when breeder reactors would be put into commercial use. 187 Third, we will redirect funding of U.S. nuclear research and development programs to accelerate our research into alternative nuclear fuel cycles which do not involve direct access to materials usable in nuclear weapons. 188 Fourth, we will increase U.S. production capacity for enriched uranium to provide adequate and timely supply of nuclear fuels for domestic and foreign needs.    189 13 Weekly Comp. of Pres. Doc. 506 (1977) (emphasis added). 190 The Commission recognized the impact of the Presidential order in a Memorandum of Decision issued December 23, 1977. In that memorandum, the Commission announced its decision: 191 (1) to terminate the GESMO proceeding; 192 (2) to terminate the proceedings on pending or future plutonium recycle-related license applications, except for- 193 (a) proceedings on licenses for the fabrication or use of small quantities of mixed oxide fuel for experimental purposes, and 194 (b) those portions of proceedings which involve only spent fuel storage, disposal of existing waste, or decontamination or decommissioning of existing plants; 195 (3) to reexamine the above matters after the completion of the ongoing domestic and international studies of alternative fuel cycles, now expected to take about 2 years; 196 (4) to publish the draft safeguards supplement to the GESMO documents as a staff technical report; 197 (5) as a consequence of the above decisions, to withdraw the November 1975 policy statement on mixed oxide fuel, 40 Fed.Reg. 53056; and 198 (6) to reserve for decision, if it arises, the question whether a facility such as the Allied-General Nuclear Services (AGNS) Nuclear Fuels Plant at Barnwell, South Carolina, may be licensed for experimental and feasibility purposes on a non-commercial basis to investigate processes which support the nation's non-proliferation objectives. 199 This memorandum provides the reasons for the December 23 decision.