REPORT ON IN NAVAL NUCLEAR JUNE, 1995

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shielding and neutron dosimetry would be required, increasing the cost, complexity and personnel radiation
exposure of the refueling or defueling.
In every year since 1966, the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program has been able to hold constant, and in
most cases reduce, the total radiation exposure to shipyard workers. This has been accomplished even as
the number of ships in the fleet increased, by constantly impro\-ing work procedures and tooling, personnel
training and temporary shielding. The development of long-lived reactor cores requiring less frequent
refueling also has been a significant factor in this reduction. The increases in man-rem associated with use
of LEU would clearly be inconsistent with the overall trend of reducing radiation exposure in the
performance of nuclear work in the United States, and with the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program's
longstanding commitment to minimizing the risk to workers.
m. SUMMARY
Using LEU for Naval nuclear propulsion would increase both the annual volume of spent Naval fuel
requiring disposal and the annual occupational radiation exposure of shipyard workers. The effect ranges
from a factor of nearly three to a factor of four.
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