May 27 1997

Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited

JNFL announced that in response to its application dated February 28 1996, it today received the fifth authorization for reprocessing facility design and construction from the director of the Science and Technology Agency. Following are the main items of equipment in the Head End Building for which the design and construction were approved today.

1.	Main Reprocessing System
	*	Shearing machines which shear spent fuel assemblies received from the fuel supply equipment
	*	Dissolving equipment used to dissolve sheared fuel pieces in nitric acid after they are received from the shearing machines
2.	Measurement and Control Systems
	*	Measurement and control equipment necessary for safe operation and control of shearing machines and dissolvers
	*	Safety monitoring equipment which detects criticality in the shearing machines and restores them to their normal state
3.	Disposal Systems
	*	NOx scrubbing column, iodine desorption column, blowers, etc. in the Shearing Off Gas and Dissolution Off Gas Treatment Sub-Facility, to treat radioactive gaseous waste produced during the shearing and dissolving processes
	*	Portions of the Vessel Off Gas Treatment Sub-Facility which treat radioactive gaseous waste contained radioactive materials in Head End Building
	*	Ventilation equipment including ventilators, exhaust fans, etc.

[ Reference]

Chronology of Applications and Authorizations for Reprocessing Facility Design and Construction

1992
December 24	Reprocessing facility operator approval granted
1993
January 13	First design and construction application files
April 14	First approval granted
April 28	Construction of the reprocessing plant begins
July 30	Second design and construction application filed
December 27	Second approval granted
1994
April 12	Third design and construction application filed
July 22	Third approval granted
October 21	First modification of design and construction application filed
November 25	First modification approval granted
1995
April 18	Second modification of design and construction application filed
April 28	Second modification approval granted
May 22	Fourth design and construction application filed
September 26	Fourth approval granted
1996
February 28	Fifth design and construction application filed
August 8	Third modification of design and construction application filed
September 20	Third modification approval granted

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