Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations (Amendment) (Cth)

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Statutory Rules 1994

No. 143 1

__________________

Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 2(Amendment)

I, The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, make the following Regulations under the Customs Act 1901.

Dated 16 May 1994.

 BILL HAYDEN

 Governor-General

 By His Excellency’s Command,

C. SCHACHT

Minister for Small Business, Customs and Construction

____________

1.   Amendment

1.1   The Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations are amended as set out in these Regulations.

[NOTE:

 These Regulations commence on gazettal: see Acts Interpretation Act 1901, s. 48.]

2.    Schedule 9 (Goods the exportation of which is prohibited unless the approval of the Minister or an authorised person referred to in regulation 11 is produced to the Collector)

Omit the Schedule, substitute:

“SCHEDULE 9 Regulation 11

NUCLEAR-SPECIFIC GOODS

(EXPORTATION PROHIBITED EXCEPT ON PRODUCTION OF APPROVAL UNDER REGULATION 11)

PART 1—INTERPRETATION

1.1   In this Schedule:

‘criticality’ means a condition where a sufficient quantity of fissile material is assembled in the right arrangement for a self-sustaining fission reaction to take place;

‘high strength to density ratio materials’ includes any of the following materials:

(a) maraging steel capable of an ultimate tensile strength of at least 2.05 x 109 N/m2; or

(b) aluminium alloys capable of at least an ultimate tensile strength of 0.46 x 109 N/m2; or

(c) filamentary materials suitable for use in composite structures and having:

  • (i)

    a specific modulus of at least 12.3 x 106m; and

  • (ii)

    a specific ultimate tensile strength of at least 0.3 x 106m.

‘UF6-resistant materials’ means materials resistant to corrosion by uranium hexafluoride and includes:

(a) stainless steel; and

(b) aluminium, aluminium alloys and aluminium oxide; and

(c) nickel; and

(d) alloys containing more than 60% by weight of nickel; and

(e) fully fluorinated hydrocarbon polymers resistant to corrosion by uranium hexafluoride.

PART 2—SOURCE MATERIAL AND SPECIAL FISSIONABLE MATERIAL

2.1

Source material, as follows:

(a)__ uranium containing the mixture of isotopes occurring in nature;

(b)__ uranium depleted in the isotope 235;

(c)__ thorium;

(d)__ any of the materials mentioned in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) in the form of metal, alloy, chemical compound, ore or concentrate, including monazite;

but not including:

(e) thorium alloys containing less than 1.5% by weight of thorium; or

(f)__ any of the materials mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d) when contained in medicinals.

2.2

Special fissionable material as follows:

(a)__ plutonium-239;

(b)__ uranium-233;

(c)__ material containing any of the materials referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b);

(d) uranium containing either or both of the isotopes 235 and 233 if the abundance ratio of that isotope, or the sum of those isotopes, to the isotope 238 is more than the ratio of isotope 235 to the isotope 238 occurring in nature (isotopic ratio: 0.71%);

but not including:

(e) plutonium with an isotopic concentration of plutonium-238 exceeding 80%; or

(f)__ any of the materials mentioned in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) when used in quantities of 1 gram or less as a sensing component in instruments; or

(g)__ any of the materials mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d) when contained in medicinals.

2.3

Other fissionable materials, as follows:

(a) americium-242;

(b) curium-245;

(c) curium-247;

(d) californium-249;

(e) californium-251;

(f) compounds, alloys and mixtures of any of the materials to which paragraphs (a) to (e) apply;

in quantities greater, either singly or in combination, than 0.1 g (or 0.3 g when contained in a sensing component or sensing instrument).

PART 3—NUCLEAR REACTORS AND RELATED EQUIPMENT

3.1

Complete nuclear reactors capable of maintaining a controlled self-sustaining fission chain reaction.

3.2

Reactor pressure vessels and related parts, as follows:

(a) complete reactor pressure vessels and major shop-fabricated parts (such as a top plate) for reactor pressure vessels, that are:

  • (i)

    constructed of metal; and

  • (ii)

    especially designed or prepared to contain the core of a nuclear reactor; and

  • (iii)

    capable of withstanding the operating pressure of the primary coolant; and

(b) major components suitable for the operation of a nuclear reactor, including:

  • (i)

    core support structures; and

  • (ii)

    thermal shields; and

  • (iii)

    baffles; and

  • (iv)

    core grid plates; and

  • (v)

    diffuser plates.

3.3

Machines for charging and discharging reactor fuel,

 being:

(a) machines that are:

(i) especially designed or prepared for inserting fuel in, or removing fuel from, a nuclear reactor; and

(ii) capable of on-load operation; or

(b) machines that employ technically sophisticated positioning or alignment features to allow complex off-load fuelling operations where direct viewing of, or access, to the fuel is not normally available.

3.4

Rods, including the support or suspension structures, especially designed or prepared for controlling the reaction rate in a nuclear reactor.

3.5

Reactor pressure tubes especially designed or prepared to contain fuel elements and the primary coolant in a nuclear reactor at an operating pressure exceeding 5.1 MPa.

3.6

Zirconium tubes comprising metal and alloys in the form of tubes, or assemblies of tubes, that:

(a) are especially designed or prepared for use in a nuclear reactor; and

(b) have a composition in which the ratio of hafnium to zirconium is less than 1:500 by weight.

3.7

Primary coolant pumps especially designed or prepared to circulate liquid metal as primary coolant for nuclear reactors.

3.8

Heat exchangers especially designed or prepared for use in a nuclear reactor.

3.9

Simulators especially designed for nuclear reactors.

3.10

Ultrasonic test equipment, or eddy current test equipment, especially designed for nuclear reactors.

PART 4—NON-NUCLEAR MATERIALS FOR REACTORS

4.1

Deuterium, and deuterium materials, for use in a nuclear reactor, as follows:

(a) deuterium;

(b) heavy water (deuterium oxide);

(c) compounds, mixtures and solutions containing deuterium in which the ratio of deuterium atoms to hydrogen atoms exceeds 1:5000.

4.2

Nuclear-grade graphite, being graphite that:

(a) has a purity level greater than 5 parts per million boron equivalent; and

(b) has a density greater than 1.50 g/cm3.

PART 5—PLANTS FOR THE REPROCESSING OF IRRADIATED NUCLEARFUEL ELEMENTS AND RELATED EQUIPMENT

5.1

Remotely-operated machines that are:

(a) especially designed or prepared to cut, chop or shear irradiated nuclear fuel elements (in the form of assemblies, bundles or rods); and

(b) especially designed or prepared for use in a reprocessing plant.

5.2 

Dissolvers in the form of critically-safe tanks (including small-diameter, annular or slab tanks) that:

(a) are especially designed for, or capable of, use in a reprocessing plant; and

(b) are capable of use for dissolution of irradiated nuclear fuel; and

(c) can be both loaded and maintained by remote control.

5.3

Solvent extractors and related equipment especially designed or prepared for use in a plant for the reprocessing of irradiated fuel.

5.4

Chemical storage vessels especially designed or prepared for use in a plant for the reprocessing of irradiated fuel, being vessels that:

(a) are fabricated of high-quality materials (such as low-carbon steels, titanium or zirconium) that are resistant to the corrosive effect of nitric acid; and

(b) are designed for remote operation and maintenance; and

(c) have the following characteristics for control of nuclear criticality:

  • (i)

    walls or internal structures with a boron equivalent of at least 2%; or

  • (ii)

    a maximum diameter of 175 mm for cylindrical vessels; or

  • (iii)

    a maximum width of 75 mm for either a slab or annular vessel.

5.5

Plant and equipment especially designed or prepared for the conversion of plutonium nitrate to plutonium oxide, being plant and equipment adapted, in particular, so as to:

(a) avoid criticality and radiation effects; and

(b) minimise toxicity hazards.

5.6

Plant and equipment especially designed or prepared for the production of plutonium metal, being plant and equipment adapted, in particular, so as to:

(a) avoid criticality and radiation effects; and

(b) minimise toxicity hazards.

PART 6—PLANT AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE FABRICATION OF REACTOR FUEL ELEMENTS

6.1

Plant and equipment for the fabrication of reactor fuel elements, including equipment that:

(a) normally comes in direct contact with, or directly processes or controls, the production flow of nuclear material; or

(b) seals the nuclear material within the cladding.

PART 7—PLANT AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE SEPARATION OF ISOTOPES OF URANIUM

7.1

Gas centrifuges for the separation of isotopes of uranium, and assemblies for them, that are constructed from high strength to density ratio materials, and components especially designed or prepared for use in gas centrifuges of that kind, as follows:

(a) rotating components, as follows:

  • (i)

    rotor assemblies (whether completely or partially assembled):

    • (A)

      constructed with thin-walled cylinders, or a number of inter-connected thin-walled cylinders; and

    • (B)

      manufactured from a high strength to density ratio material;

  • (ii)

    rotor tubes, being cylinders:

    • (A)

      with a wall thickness of not more than 12 mm; and

    • (B)

      with an external diameter from at least 75 mm and up to 400 mm; and

    • (C)

      manufactured from a high strength to density ratio material;

  • (iii)

    rings or bellows to give localised support to a rotor tube, or join together a number of joined rotor tubes, where the bellows:

    • (A)

      is a short cylinder with a wall thickness not greater that 3 mm:

    • (B)

      has an external diameter from at least 75 mm and up to 400 mm; and

    • (C)

      is manufactured from a high strength to density ratio material;

  • (iv)

    baffles which:

    • (A)

      comprise disc-shaped components from 75 mm to 400 mm in diameter; and

    • (B)

      are designed to isolate the take-off chamber from the main separation chamber; and

    • (C)

      are designed to assist the circulation of uranium hexafluoride gas within the main separation chamber of the rotor tube; and

    • (D)

      are manufactured from a high strength to density ratio material;

  • (v)

    top caps and bottom caps which:

    • (A)

      comprise disc-shaped components from 75 mm to 400 mm in diameter; and

    • (B)

      fit at the ends of a rotor tube; and

    • (C)

      contain uranium hexafluoride within the rotor tube; and

    • (D)

      support, retain or contain as an integrated part, an element of the top cap; and

    • (E)

      carry the rotating elements of the motor and bottom cap; and

    • (F)

      are manufactured from a high strength to density ratio material;

(b) static components as follows:

  • (i)

    magnetic suspension bearing assemblies:

    (A) manufactured from UF6-resistant materials; and

    (B) consisting of an angular magnet suspended within a housing containing a damping medium;

(ii) bearings and dampers, which comprise a pivot and cup assembly mounted on a damper where:

(A) the pivot is a hardened steel shaft polished into a hemisphere at one end with a means of attachment to the bottom cap; and

(B) the cup has a hemispherical indentation in one surface;

(iii) molecular pumps, being cylinders that have:

(A) internally machined or extruded helical grooves; and

(B) internally machined bores of from 75 mm to 400 mm internal diameter; and

(C) a wall thickness of at least 10 mm; and

(D) a 1:1 length to diameter ratio;

(iv) motor stators, being ring-shaped stators that:

(A) are especially designed or prepared for high-speed multiphase AC hysteresis motors for synchronous operation within a vacuum in the frequency range of 600-2000 Hz and a power range of 50-1000 VA; and

(B) consist of multi-phase windings on a laminated low-loss iron core comprising layers not more than 2.0 mm in thickness.

7.2

Auxiliary systems, equipment and components especially designed or prepared for use in, or in connection with, gas centrifuge enrichment plants, as follows:

(a) feed systems, and product and tails withdrawal systems, wholly made of or lined with UF6-resistant materials for trapping uranium hexafluoride into containers, including:

(i) feed autoclaves (or stations), suitable for passing uranium hexafluoride to the centrifuge cascades:

  • (A)

    at not more than 100 kPa pressure; and

  • (B)

    at a rate of at least 1 kg/h;

(ii) desublimers (or cold traps), capable of being chilled to 203 K and heated to 343 K, suitable for removing uranium hexafluoride from the cascades at not more than 3 kPa pressure;

(b) piping systems and header systems, suitable for handling uranium hexafluoride within the centrifuge cascades, wholly made of, or lined with, UF6-resistant materials;

(c) uranium hexafluoride mass spectrometers and ion sources, including magnetic or quadrupole mass spectrometers, suitable for taking on-line samples of feed, product or tails from uranium hexafluoride gas streams, with the following characteristics:

(i) unit resolution for mass greater than 320 atomic mass units; and

(ii) ion sources made of, or lined with, nichrome or monel that are nickel plated; and

(iii) electron bombardment ionisation sources; and

(iv) a collector system suitable for isotopic analysis;

(d) frequency changers (also known as converters or invertors) or parts, components and sub-assemblies of frequency changers, to supply motor stators as mentioned in subparagraph 7.1 (b) (iv), with the following characteristics:

(i) a multiphase output, of not less than 600 Hz and not more than 2000 Hz;

(ii) high stability, with frequency control better than 0.1%;

(iii) harmonic distortion of less than 2%; and

(iv) an efficiency of more than 80%.

7.3

Assemblies and components especially designed or prepared for use in gaseous diffusion enrichment, as follows:

(a) porous filters, having a pore size of 100 to 1,000 angstroms and a thickness of 5 mm or less (or for tubular forms, a diameter of 25 mm or less), made of metallic, polymer or ceramic materials resistant to corrosion by uranium hexafluoride;

(b) compounds and powders for the manufacture of porous filters mentioned in paragraph (a), being compounds and powders that:

(i) are composed of:

  • (A)

    nickel; or

  • (B)

    alloys containing at least 60% nickel; or

  • (C)

    aluminium oxide: or

  • (D)

    UF6-resistant fully fluorinated hydrocarbon polymers having a purity of at least 99.9%; and

(ii) have a particle size less than 10 microns;

(c) diffuser housings especially designed or prepared for containing the gaseous diffusion barrier and suitable for horizontal or vertical installation, which are:

(i) hermetically sealed cylindrical vessels:

(A) greater than 300 mm in diameter; and

(B) greater than 900 mm in length; or

(ii) rectangular vessels of dimensions comparable to vessels mentioned in subparagraph (i) which have:

(A) an inlet connection; and

(B) two outlet connections, each of which is greater than 50 mm in diameter;

made from, or lined with, UF6-resistant materials;

(d) axial, centrifugal, or positive displacement compressors and gas blowers (including separate assemblies of compressors and gas blowers) with the following characteristics:

(i) a suction volume capacity of at least 1 m3/min of uranium hexafluoride;

(ii) a ratio of outlet pressure to inlet pressure of not less than 2:1 and not more than 6:1;

(iii) made of, or lined with, UF6-resistant materials; and

(iv) especially designed or prepared for long-term operation in a uranium hexafluoride environment, with or without an electrical motor of appropriate power;

(e) rotary shaft vacuum seals, especially designed or prepared for use with compressors or gas blowers described in paragraph (d), having seal feed and seal exhaust connections suitable:

(i) for sealing the shaft connecting the compressor or the gas blower rotor with the driver motor, against in-leaking of air into the inner chamber (of the compressor or gas blower) containing uranium hexafluoride;

(ii) for a buffer gas in-leakage rate of less than 1000 m3/min;

(f) heat exchangers, especially designed or prepared for cooling uranium hexafluoride, having a leakage pressure change rate of less than 10 Pa/h under a pressure differential of 100 kPa, made of or lined with:

(i) UF6-resistant materials (except stainless steel); or

(ii) copper; or

(iii) any combination of the metals referred to in subparagraphs (i) and (ii).

7.4

Auxiliary systems, equipment and components, especially designed or prepared for use in gaseous diffusion enrichment, as follows:

(a) feed systems, and product and tails withdrawal systems, especially designed or prepared for operation at pressures of 300 kPa or less, including:

(i) feed autoclaves (or systems), suitable for passing uranium hexafluoride to the gaseous diffusion cascades;

(ii) desublimers (or cold traps) suitable for removing uranium hexafluoride from diffusion cascades;

(iii) liquefaction stations suitable for compressing and cooling uranium hexafluoride gas from the cascade to form a liquid;

(iv) product, or tails, stations suitable for transferring uranium hexafluoride into containers;

(b) piping systems and header systems especially designed or prepared for handling uranium hexafluoride within the gaseous diffusion cascades;

(c) vacuum systems, especially designed or prepared for use in atmospheres containing uranium hexafluoride, made of, or lined with, aluminium, nickel or alloys containing more than 60% by weight of nickel including:

(i) vacuum manifolds and vacuum headers; and

(ii) vacuum pumps having a suction capacity of 5 m3/min or more:

  • (A)

    whether rotary or positive; or

    • (B)

      with or without displacement and fluorocarbon seals; and

  • (C)

    with or without special working fluids;

(d) manual, or automated, shut-off and control bellows valves that:

  • (i)

    are made of UF6-resistant materials; and

  • (ii)

    have a diameter of 40 mm to 1.5 m; and

  • (iii)

    are especially designed or prepared for installation in main and auxiliary systems of gaseous diffusion enrichment plants;

(e) mass spectrometers and ion sources, including magnetic or quadrupole mass spectrometers, that:

  • (i)

    are especially designed or prepared for taking on-line samples of feed, product or tails from uranium hexafluoride gas streams: and

  • (ii)

    have:

    • (A)

      a unit resolution for mass greater than 320 atomic units; and

    • (B)

      ion sources that are made of, or lined with, nichrome or monel or that are nickel plated; and

    • (C)

      electron bombardment ionisation sources; and

    • (D)

      a collector system suitable for isotopic analysis.

7.5

Jet nozzle separation units especially designed or prepared for use in plant and equipment for the separation of isotopes of uranium.

7.6

Vortex separation units especially designed or prepared for use in plant and equipment for the separation of isotopes of uranium.

PART 8—PLANT AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HEAVY WATER, DEUTERIUM AND DEUTERIUM COMPOUNDS

8.1

Water-hydrogen sulphide exchange towers that are:

(a) especially designed or prepared for heavy water production by the water-hydrogen sulphide exchange process; and

(b) fabricated from fine carbon steel with a corrosion allowance of at least 6 mm; and

(c) capable of operating at a pressure of at least 2 MPa.

8.2

Single stage, low head (0.2 MPa) centrifugal blowers or compressors for the circulation of hydrogen sulphide gas that:

(a) are especially designed or prepared for production of heavy water by the exchange process utilising water and hydrogen sulphide; and

(b) have a throughput capacity of at least 56 m3/second _of at least 1.8 MPa suction; and

(c) have seals designed for wet hydrogen sulphide service.

8.3

Ammonia-hydrogen exchange towers, especially designed or prepared for heavy water production utilising the ammonia-hydrogen exchange process, that are:

(a) at least 35 m in height; and

(b) between 1.5 m and 2.5 m (inclusive) in diameter; and

(c) capable of operating at a pressure greater than 15 MPa; and

(d) made with at least one flanged axial opening, of the same diameter as the cylindrical part of the tower, for use in inserting and withdrawing tower internals.

8.4

Hydrogen distillation plants, as follows:

(a) hydrogen cryogenic distillation towers and cold boxes designed for operation below 35 K; and

(b) turboexpanders or turboexpander-compressor sets designed for operation below 35 K.

8.5

Tower internals, and stage pumps, especially designed or prepared for use in, or in connection with, towers for the production of heavy water by the ammonia-hydrogen exchange process, including:

(a) stage contactors especially designed to promote intimate contact between gas and liquid; and

(b) submersible pumps especially designed for the circulation of liquid ammonia within an ammonia-hydrogen exchange tower.

8.6

Ammonia crackers that:

(a) are especially designed or prepared for production of heavy water by the ammonia-hydrogen exchange process; and

(b) have an operating pressure of at least 3 MPa.

8.7

Infrared absorption analysers capable of on-line analysis of the ratio of hydrogen to deuterium where deuterium concentrations are at least 90%.

8.8

Catalytic burners especially designed or prepared for production of heavy water from enriched deuterium gas by means of the ammonia-hydrogen exchange process.

PART 9—SOFTWARE

9.1

Software especially designed or modified for the development, production or use of equipment or materials mentioned in any item of this Schedule.

PART 10—POWER GENERATING OR PROPULSION EQUIPMENT

10.1

Power generating or propulsion equipment especially designed for use with military, space, marine or mobile nuclear reactors.

PART 11—INFORMATION

11.1

Documents that:

(a) contain information about the development, production or use of goods specified in this Schedule; and

(b) are not lawfully available, within or outside Australia, to the public or a section of the public.

11.2

Models or any other thing from which information in relation to which item 11.1 applies can be obtained.

NOTES

1. Notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 23 May 1994.

2. Statutory Rules 1958 No. 5 as amended by 1959 No. 5; 1961 Nos. 16 and 112; 1963 Nos. 129 and 130; 1964 No. 144; 1965 No. 136; 1966 Nos. 70 and 75; 1967 Nos. 42, 59 and 123; 1968 Nos. 46, 83, 101, 153, 160 and 162; 1969 Nos. 11, 21, 22 and 219; 1970 Nos. 34, 68, 89, 106 and 121; 1972 No. 210; 1973 Nos. 4, 7, 39, 74, 102, 138, 218 and 248; 1974 Nos. 46, 157, 178 and 250; 1975 Nos. 19, 44, 45, 173 and 224; 1976 Nos. 169 and 233; 1977 No. 89; 1978 Nos. 14, 58, 59 and 277; 1979 Nos. 160 and 237; 1980 Nos. 21, 61, 72, 76, 82, 99, 110, 212, 273, 358, 381 and 383; 1981 Nos. 49, 72, 86, 149, 225, 251 and 324; 1982 Nos. 169, 171 and 310; 1983 No. 272; 1984 Nos. 35, 63, 191, 262, 263 and 316; 1985 Nos. 1, 68, 138 and 378; 1986 Nos. 76, 89, 177, 178, 328, 364, 365, 366 and 388; 1987 Nos. 97, 115, 156, 176, 301, 317, 318 and 319; 1988 Nos. 65, 178, 195 and 361; 1989 Nos. 57, 59, 196, 264 and 388; 1990 Nos. 125, 146, 190, 264, 333 and 438; 1991 Nos. 24, 77, 118, 288 and 413; 1992 Nos. 61, 83, 103, 155, 412 and 414; 1993 Nos. 68, 212, 258 and 322; 1994 No. 32.

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