Fusion Requirement of No Public Evacuation.

DOE-STD-6002-96

from representatives of a large and diverse cross section of U.S. industry (potential

future operators of fusion facilities). An attempt has been made to assemble and

synthesize these sometimes contradictory inputs into a consistent set of safety

requirements and safety principles for fusion. Safety philosophies, approaches, and

requirements from radiation protection, nuclear power, risk and reliability, space, and

chemical technologies were examined. Those requirements that were appropriate for

fusion were accepted. Others were modified as needed, and those that were not

appropriate for fusion were omitted.

Because of uncertainty regarding the future role of DOE in self-regulation, this

approach was taken to capture the intent of those requirements that are imple-

mented by regulatory agencies [e.g., Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), DOE,

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)] and at the same time not reflect any

specific agency's approach, which would then have to be changed once a final

decision about such matters is made. Thus, the requirements in this Standard are

stated generically so that they can be adopted by any agency that might regulate

future fusion machines.

A key factor in making those decisions was the understanding of the hazards

involved in fusion facilities. Applicable requirements from U.S. Federal law (e.g.,

radiation, hazardous release limits) were integrated into the overall set of require -

ments. This approach resulted in a set of functional safety requirements that make

sense for fusion and that can be used for the range of facilities expected.

The majority of the safety policy was adopted from and is consistent with SEN-35-91,

"Nuclear Safety Policy," DOE Order 5480.30, "Nuclear Reactor Safety Design

Criteria," and NRC safety goals. Fusion facilities will comply with this policy if they

meet the requirements presented in this Standard.

Two areas are neither specifically DOE nor Federal requirements but are specified

as part of the Safety Policy of the Requirements Standard:

no public evacuation for magnetic fusion facilities, and

minimization of the amount of fusion facility waste, especially high-level radioac -

tive waste.

These additional points, which are related to global facility safety and environmental

issues, are considered sufficiently important to the acceptance of magnetic fusion

power by the utility industry and the public that they are included as an integral part

of the safety policy.

4. Fusion Requirement of No Public Evacuation. The most sweeping departure from

existing requirements for safety of nuclear facilities is the requirement that fusion

facilities be designed and operated in such a way that no public evacuation will be

necessary, even in the event of a severe off-normal event.