US NRC 'torn' on how to proceed with GNEP: Commissioner Lyons

US NRC 'torn' on how to proceed with GNEP: Commissioner Lyons
Washington (Platts)--12Jun2007
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission is "torn" on how to proceed with the
Department of Energy's Global Nuclear Energy Partnership, NRC commissioner
Peter Lyons said Tuesday.
In remarks before the Global Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing and Recycling
conference in Seattle, Lyons said the agency does not have "sufficient
certainty" from the Bush administration and Congress to know what resources
need to be assigned, and on what time scale, to develop a framework for
licensing facilities under GNEP, an initiative to develop new types of
reprocessing plants and fast reactors.
In determining fiscal 2008 funding levels, there have been differences
between the administration and Congress, as well as within the administration,
over the urgency of GNEP work.
Lyons also emphasized that spent fuel is now safely stored at reactor
sites, although there could be debates over whether such an approach is
"desirable." NRC commissioners now are considering a staff proposal for a
two-phased approach to setting up a GNEP licensing regime.