Need for health and safety reviews in nuclear export licensing

The past role of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in health and safety regulations concerning reactors exported to other countries is reviewed. Special attention is focused on the U.S.-India relations concerning the Tarapur reactor. It is concluded that the present informal policy of technical assistance and advice to foreign purchasers of the U.S. nuclear equipment, fuels and technology is an inadequate approach to a very serious problem. Four minimum conditions are set forth which should be met before an export license could be issued