Internationalization of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Goals, Strategies, and Challenges (Repost)

This book summarizes key issues and analyses of the topic, offers some criteria for evaluating options, and makes findings and recommendations to help the United States, the Russian Federation, and the international community reduce proliferation and other risks, as nuclear power is used more widely. This book is intended for all those who are concerned about the need for assuring fuel for new reactors and at the same time limiting the spread of nuclear weapons.

This audience includes the United States and Russia, other nations that currently supply nuclear material and technology, many other countries contemplating starting or growing nuclear power programs, and the international organizations that support the safe, secure functioning of the international nuclear fuel cycle, most prominently the International Atomic Energy Agency.

CONTENTS
SUMMARY
1 INTRODUCTION
WHY IS THERE INTEREST NOW IN NUCLEAR POWER?
THE PROLIFERATION PROBLEM IN MORE DETAIL
FUEL FABRICATION
2 INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE CENTERS
WHAT IMPACT CAN SUCH CENTERS AND ASSURED FUEL SUPPLY IN GENERAL HAVE ON NONPROLIFERATION ISSUES?
ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE
NON-ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF THE NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE
INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT OF SPENT FUEL
INTERNATIONAL CENTERS AND THE RISK OF TECHNOLOGY LEAKAGE
INTERNATIONAL CENTERS FOR TRAINING NUCLEAR PERSONNEL
VARIANTS ON MULTINATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL
3 FUEL REGENERATION OPTIONS TO SUPPORT AN INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE
COMPARING NUCLEAR OPTIONS: THE NEED FOR A SYSTEMS APPROACH
EVALUATING CURRENTLY PROPOSED SYSTEMS
WHY “ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF DESTRUCTION OF ACTINIDES” IS NOT WELL DEFINED TECHNICALLY
IMPROVED FAST REACTORS
SMALL, SELF-CONTAINED, DEPLOYABLE REACTORS
HIGH BURN-UP FUELS
THORIUM FUEL CYCLES
DRY METHODS FOR FUEL SEPARATIONS
VIBROPACKING PROCEDURE
CLOSING THOUGHTS ON NEW TECHNOLOGIES
COMPARISON OF PROCESSES FOR SEPARATION OF FISSILE AND OTHER MATERIALS FROM SPENT OR IRRADIATED NUCLEAR FUEL
LIST OF ACRONYMS
REFERENCES
APPENDIXES
A STATEMENT OF TASK
B SUMMARY OF THE NAS-RAS WORKSHOP ON INTERNATIONALIZATION OF THE CIVILIAN NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE
C THE STRATEGY OF NUCLEAR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN RUSSIA
D AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION FOR COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF PEACEFUL USES OF NUCLEAR ENERGY
E LIST OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND SPEAKERS
F COMMITTEE MEMBER BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES