PHILLIP BURTON, CALIF. BOS ECKHARDT, TEL GOODLOR & BYRON, MD. JAIME BENITEZ, P.B JIM SANTINI, NËV. PAIR & TSONGAS, MASS. ALLAN T. HOWE, UTAN JAMES WEAVER, OPER BOB CARR, MICH. GLORGE MILLER, CALIF. THEODORE M. (TED) RIS DONDOVER, JOE SKUBITZ, KANS. Mr. William Anders Chairman, Nuclear Regulatory Commission 1717 M Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. Dear Chairman Anders: The January 8, 1976 Washington Star reports a substantial discrepancy in accounting for "bomb-grade" uranium at the Nuclear Fuel Services Facility in Erwin, Tennessee. This incident raises several questions relevant to the concerns of the Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment. I would appreciate your providing an explanation of what went wrong. What assurance is there, in the presence of this apparently unreliable accounting system, that materials have not been illicitly removed from the plant? Does this incident carry any implication regarding the overall usefullness of material control and accounting systems? What accuracy can be expected from material control and accounting systems in large reprocessing and fabrication plants which would be associated with large scale plutonium recycle? I look forward to receiving your reply. With best regards, enclosure Sincerely, Morris K. Udall Chairman, Subcommittee on NITED S COMMISSION OFFICE OF THE CHAIRMAN WASHINGTON, D. C. 20555 MAR 19 1976 Honorable Morris K. Udall Chairman, Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs Dear Chrom Udall: I apologize for the delay in responding to your January 9, 1976, inquiry regarding the uranium inventory discrepancy at the Nuclear Fuel Services plant (NFS) in Erwin, Tennessee. However, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff was engaged in an urgent review of the NFS situation and I felt the Commission could better respond to your concerns after the review. The enclosures contain a summary of events at the NFS plant and staff comments to your specific questions. I hope this information is fully responsive to your needs. |