Press Release-00-044, NRC Extends Comment Period on Draft Review Plan for Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility

Press Release-00-044: NRC Extends Comment Period on Draft Review Plan for Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility

ML003707090
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Issue date:	03/14/2000
From:	Office of Public Affairs
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Press Release-00-044
Download: ML003707090 (2)

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NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, DC 20555-001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov Web Site: http://www.nrc.gov/OPA No.00-044 March 14, 2000 NRC EXTENDS COMMENT PERIOD ON DRAFT REVIEW PLAN FOR MIXED OXIDE FUEL FABRICATION FACILITY The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has extended until March 27 the public comment period on its draft plan for the review of a possible future application for a mixed oxide (MOX) fuel fabrication facility. The original due date for comments was March 13.

The Department of Energy has announced its plans to construct a MOX fuel plant at its Savannah River site in South Carolina to convert surplus weapons-grade plutonium into fuel to power commercial nuclear reactors. Commercial nuclear power plants in the United States currently use uranium as fuel; the mixed oxide fuel would be a combination of uranium and plutonium.

The Standard Review Plan defines standards and criteria that the NRC would use in reviewing an application to decide if there is reasonable assurance that a MOX fuel fabrication facility will be constructed and operated in a manner that will provide reasonable protection of the health and safety of workers, the public and the environment and that will not be inimical to the common defense and security.

A copy of the draft "Standard Review Plan for the Review of an Application for a Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication Facility" (NUREG-1718) is available by writing to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Distribution Services, Washington, DC 20555-0001. A copy is also available on the NRC's website at http://www.nrc.gov/NRC/NUREGS/SR1718/index.html Comments should be submitted to the Chief, Rules and Directives Branch, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington DC 20555-0001. Comments may also be submitted electronically by selecting the "comments" link on the above website.