March 1, 2001

Partial Design Changes to Reprocessing Facilities and Expansion of the Vitrified Waste Storage Building at the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant

Japan Nuclear Fuel Limited

JNFL reported to Aomori Prefecture and Rokkasho-Mura today about the partial design changes to reprocessing facilities and the expansion of the Vitrified Waste Storage Building at the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant. Based on the Agreement on Community Safety and Environmental Protection Guidelines, JNFL today submitted plans regarding the design changes to reprocessing facilities and the expansion of the Vitrified Waste Storage Building at the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant to the governor of Aomori Prefecture and the mayor of Rokkasho-Mura.

Outline of the Partial Design Changes to Reprocessing Facilities and Expansion of the Vitrified Waste Storage Building at the Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant

The Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant is steadily accepting spent fuel at its Spent Fuel Storage Facility and is promoting the construction of additional key reprocessing facilities with an eye to complete them in July 2005. JNFL is applying for permission to alter its operations, including the partial review of facility design in order to improve the efficiency of the processing of low-level radioactive liquid waste from the perspective of enhancing waste management capabilities. As of the end of February 2001, JNFL has received 464 canisters of vitrified waste returned to Japan after reprocessing overseas. Based on the future schedule for the return of vitrified waste, second-phase construction will be performed to create additional facilities in the Vitrified Waste Storage Building, thereby expanding the capacity of the existing first-phase facilities, which are expected to reach maximum capacity in FY2005.

1. Reprocessing Operations (1) Change in Spent Fuel Storage Facility An evaporator and solidification equipment will be installed so that low-level radioactive liquid waste released by the Spent Fuel Storage Facility can be processed at the facility. (2) Cancellation of Plan to Install a Small Hot Test Facility Although JNFL had planned to install a Small Hot Test Facility to conduct tests to support the operation of the reprocessing plant, JNFL has decided to cancel the installation of this facility in light of the experiences of reprocessing plants in France. (3) Changes in the West Wing of the No. 1 Vitrified Package Storage Building JNFL plans to construct a West Wing of the No. 1 Vitrified Package Storage Building. JNFL will make the wing smaller than originally planned by raising storage efficiency by reducing the amount of space between the canisters which store the vitrified packages. (4) Changes Related to the Receipt of Solid Waste from Various Facilities at the Reprocessing Plant JNFL will receive and store as low-level radioactive solid waste various solid wastes released by the Rokkasho Safeguards Analytical Laboratory in the Analysis Laboratory Building. (5) Change in References in Records to Company-Owned Land JNFL will delete all references to company-owned land, including the area and boundary lines of company-owned land. 2. Waste Management Operations Expansion of Storage Facilities for Vitrified Waste Returned after Overseas Reprocessing Second-phase construction to expand the capacity of the Vitrified Waste Storage Building will be conducted on the land to the north of the first-stage construction. The additional facilities will be able to store 1,440 canisters, the same amount as the existing first-phase facilities.