[en] The safety analysis in approving the applications for nuclear reactor constructions (or alterations) is performed by the Committee on Examination of Reactor Safety in accordance with various guidelines prescribed by the Atomic Energy Commission. In addition, the above Committee set forth its own regulations for the safety analysis on common problems among various types of nuclear reactors. This book has collected and edited those guidelines and regulations. It has two parts: Part I includes the guidelines issued to date by the Atomic Energy Commission: and Part II - regulations of the Committee. Part I has collected 8 categories of guidelines which relate to following matters: nuclear reactor sites analysis guidelines and standards for their applications; standard exposure dose of plutonium; nuclear ship operation guidelines; safety design analysis guidelines for light-water type, electricity generating nuclear reactor equipments; safety evaluation guidelines for emergency reactor core cooling system of light-water type power reactors; guidelines for exposure dose target values around light-water type electricity generating nuclear reactor equipments, and guidelines for evaluation of above target values; and meteorological guidelines for the safety analysis of electricity generating nuclear reactor equipments. Part II includes regulations of the Committee concerning - the fuel assembly used in boiling-water type and in pressurized-water type reactors; techniques of reactor core heat designs, etc. in boiling-water reactors; and others

[en] The Atomic Energy Basic Law and related several laws were amended in the recent diet session. The amendment of the laws was requested after the radiation leakage from nuclear-powered ship ''Mutsu''. The reform of administrative system of atomic energy development and utilization are consisted of two important points: one is to establish the Nuclear Safety Commission for strengthening nuclear safety administration, and the other is to give an authority to each ministry or agency to regulate nuclear power reactor from the establishment to operation according to its original mission. (author)

[en] The controversy regarding atomic energy has been started by the letter written in 1939 by Einstein, and gone through the enactment of Mac Mahon Act, the establishment of Atomic Energy Commission, the address by President Eisenhower in 1953 in UN and the enactment of Atomic Energy Act. At the time, however, it was almost impossible to start the controversy regarding atomic energy. The controversy regarding atomic energy of today is not related to the problems of atomic energy actually, and has grown into turmoil of much wider scope. The AEC approved in 1968 the construction of 23 nuclear reactors with 18 million KWe capacity. Since then, its discussion increased, the understanding of atomic energy deepened, and the opposition movement became active. But it was obligated to hold public hearings by ASLB around construction sites at the time of the application for the permission of construction. The new politics in 1960s was prompted by the advent of television, the growth of apres guerre generation to adult age and others. The science and technology were not able to end the war and to save the lives of youths. The National Environmental Policy Act offered the framework in which the social impact of new technologies can be discussed beforehand. The basic problem is that of the growth of USA at present, and the transition to success in atomic energy controversy is expected. (Kako, I.)

[en] The most typical dispute on atomic energy processes takes place in Japan around seeking the annulment of permission of the installation of reactors, and nine cases on the atomic energy facilities for power generation are now in discussion. Nullification proceedings are stipulated in the law of administrative issue legal procedure. Under the law, the abolition of administrative activities can be sought only by the persons who have legal interests, which mean legally protected interests according to Japanese court decisions. The expected damage due to hot water discharge from reactors was not examined in the Ikata judgement, because hot water discharge would be discussed in the examination of permission under the Electricity Enterprises Act, according to the court. In other respects, court judgements cover all dangers of atomic energy and harmful effects of radiation. The most important point of discussion is emergency core cooling system, and Japanese special circumstances are found in that the counter measures against earthquakes are the major problem. In the Ikata case, the court held that waste treatment should be examined, and that the judgement of the government office to some degree on the method of reprocessing would suffice. The Ikata decision maintained that the standard of safety examination should depend upon the present level of science. The attitude of the court in the Ikata case was not clear as to whether the discretion of the government office may be permitted in safety judgement. (Okada, K.)

No abstract available

[en] Although the originally-approved operating period for nuclear power plants in the U.S. is 40 years, the operating periods of many plants have been extended by license renewal for another 20 years. On the other hand, in Japan, plant life management is carried out assuming long-term operation of the plant, and the electric power company submits reports, such as aging technology assessment, and receives evaluation by the authorities. In this paper, the situation regarding plant life management was investigated and a Japan-U.S. comparison was made. As a result, differences were found in the procedure, the background, the manpower, the review period, etc. in Japan and the U.S. but there is no difference between Japan and the U.S. in aiming for a check of the integrity of components, assuming long-term operation for 60 years. Moreover, trend analysis using the overseas fault database of INSS examined the effect on the preservation activities of a license renewal. As a result, there is a tendency for license renewal not to be applied for in units in which the number of aging faults increases with the increase in elapsed years. The U.S. license renewal system was considered to be effective in plant life management, and suggested the validity of plant life management in Japan which is employing the equivalent system to the U.S. (author)

[en] The report to Japan Atomic Energy Commission by the Committee on Examination of Reactor Safety concerning installation of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant is presented. Its safety was confirmed. The nuclear power plant is of BWR type, and its output is 1,100 MWe. Descriptions of the power plant presented by Tokyo Electric Co. and then the results of examination by the Committee on both sitting and plant facilities are given. (Mori, K.)

[en] In response to an inquiry on the title issue received on Jun. 17, 1988, the Nuclear Safety Commission made a study and submitted the findings to the Prime Minister on Jul. 21, 1988. The study was intended to determine the conformity of the permission to the applicable criteria specified in laws relating to control of nuclear material, nuclear fuel and nuclear reactor. The proposed modification plan included changes in the facilities in the No.1 processing building and changes in processing methods which were required to perform processing of blanket fuel assemblies for fast breeder reactor. It also included changes in the facilities in the No.2 building which were required to improve the processes. The safety study covered the anti-earthquake performance, fire/explosion prevention, criticality control, containment performance, radioactive waste disposal, and other major safety issues. Other investigations included exposure dose evaluation and accident analysis. Study results were examined on the basis of the Basic Guidelines for Nuclear Fuel Facilities Safety Review and the Uranium Processing Safety Review Guidelines. It was concluded that the modifications would not have adverse effect on the safety of the facilities. (Nogami, K.)

[en] Concerning the description of an application for the approval of installation of a reactor, stipulated in Article 23 paragraph 2 of the Law for Regulation of Nuclear Source Materials, Nuclear Fuel Materials and Reactors (hereinafter referred to as the Law), the following items must be written. Namely, the heat output of the reactor in Article 23 paragraph 2 item 3 of the Law, the position, structure and facilities of the reactor facilities, described according to the stipulated classifications, the work plan, nuclear fuel materials employed, and the disposal of spent fuel. Concerning an application for the approval of a reactor installed aboard a foreign ship, stipulations are made separately. Description of an application for the approval of change of the heat output of a reactor and others should include the stipulated items. When it is wished to undergo inspection of the construction and performance of reactor facilities, an application for that end including the required items should be filed. Various safety measures preventing personnel from being exposed to radiation should be taken. When a foreign atomic-powered ship tries to enter a Japanese port, the stipulated necessary informations should be reported 60 days before such ship actually enters the Japanese port. A chief technician of reactors should take and pass the official examination. (Rikitake, Y.)

[en] The Regulation is revised on the basis of ''The law for the regulations of nuclear source materials, nuclear fuel materials and reactors'' and the ''Provisions concerning the enterprises processing nuclear fuel materials'' in the Enforcement Ordinance for the Law, to enforce such provisions. This is the complete revision of the regulation of the same name in 1957. Terms are explained, such as exposure radiation dose, cumulative dose, control area, surrounding inspection area, persons engaged in works, radioactive wastes, area for incoming and outgoing of materials, fluctuation of stocks, batch, real stocks, effective value and main measuring points. For the applications for the permission of the enterprises processing nuclear fuel materials, the location of an enterprise, the construction of buildings and the construction of and the equipments for facilities of chemical processing, forming, coating, assembling, storage of nuclear fuel materials, disposal of radioactive wastes and radiation control must be written. Records shall be made and maintained for the periods specified on the inspection of processing facilities, nuclear fuel materials, radiation control, operation, maintainance, accidents of processing facilities and weather. Limit to entrance into the control area, measures for exposure radiation dose, patrol and inspection, operation of processing facilities, transport of materials, disposal of radioactive wastes, safety regulations are provided for. Reports to be filed by the persons engaging in the enterprises processing nuclear fuel materials are prescribed. (Okada, K.)