NRA new standards for nuke facilities other than nuclear plants

November 27, 2013

NRA sets new safety regimen for fuel reprocessors

Kyodo

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/11/27/national/nra-sets-new-safety-regimen-for-fuel-reprocessors/#.UpX-qyfij9k

The Nuclear Regulation Authority unveiled new safety standards Wednesday for spent fuel reprocessing facilities and fabrication plants, obliging operators to take measures against severe crises, including hydrogen explosions and criticality incidents.

The standards, to take effect Dec. 18, are basically in line with those imposed on commercial reactors in light of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant disaster.

Facilities the NRA will check before they reopen include a fuel reprocessing plant in Rokkasho, Aomori Prefecture, which had been expected to play a key role in Japan’s fuel recycling policy.

Operator Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd. started a trial operation of the reprocessing plant in March 2006, but a series of problems have prevented its completion.

Japan Nuclear Fuel President Yoshihiko Kawai said Wednesday the company seeks to apply for the NRA safety checks swiftly after they take effect.

“We are thinking about filing an application by the end of the year, or early next year,” he said.

Regardless, the NRA will let the plant keep accepting spent fuel from domestic nuclear plants for up to five years, asdoing so is unlikely to impact the site’s risk level.

A high-level radioactive waste storage facility, also in Rokkasho, can also keep taking vitrified waste produced abroad through the reprocessing of Japan’s spent fuel.

NRA unveils safety rules for nuclear facilities

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/news/20131127_29.html

Japan's nuclear regulators have approved a new set of safety guidelines for nuclear facilities other than power plants.

The Nuclear Regulation Authority endorsed the guidelines at its meeting on Wednesday. The rules were compiled following the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in 2011. They will take effect on December 18th.

The guidelines cover 247 facilities nationwide, including nuclear reprocessing plants and research reactors.

The rules require facility operators to assume stricter earthquake and tsunami standards in line with new safety guidelines for nuclear reactors implemented earlier this year.

Operators are also required to improve safety measures to prevent hydrogen explosions and uncontrolled nuclear chain reactions during emergencies.

The NRA is currently assessing the safety of 7 idle nuclear power plants that have applied to resume operation.

However, the authority says it will assess the safety of other facilities based on the new guidelines.

Japan Nuclear Fuel, the operator of a nuclear reprocessing plant in Aomori Prefecture that has yet to begin operations, hopes to apply for a safety assessment soon after the new requirements take effect.

But it is unclear how long the assessment will take, making it uncertain when the facility will be able to begin operations.

Nov. 27, 2013 - Updated 08:53 UTC