ML20059J600
| ML20059J600 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Claiborne |
| Issue date: | 01/24/1994 |
| From: | Tuckman M DUKE POWER CO. |
| To: | NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS) |
| References | |
| NUDOCS 9402010087 | |
| Download: ML20059J600 (2) | |
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Il i 2-u 7v M S houw Duke Fower Company knior Vice hesident P O Box 1%6 Nuclear Generation Charlone, NC28201-1006 (704)38222000thce (704)38243G0 fax DUKEPOWER January 24,1994 Chief, Enrichment Branch Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards Mail Stop 4-E-4 U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington DC 20555
Subject:
Comments on NUREG-1484
" Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Construction and Operation of Claiborne Enrichment O mier, Homer, Louisiana" File: NUC-0109 Duke Power Company welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and commends the NRC for its completion of this document. This project sends a signal to the nuclear industry that the emrent regulatory environment is receptive to new nuclear projects in the United States and will hopefully serve as a model and catalyst for future nuclear related facilities. Duke Power recognizes the important role nuclear power must play in our country's future energy supply mix to meet the demands of our growing economy and the importance of having a thorough and responsive review process for licensing new facilities.
Enrichment services make up the largest single cost component of nuclear fuel, accounting for approximately 40'7c of the total capital cost of the fuel. Duke Power Company currently spends more than $75 million per year to purchase enrichment services. While the market is characterized by a current oversupply, the vast majority of this oversupply is based on the operation of the gaseous diffusion technology. The U.S. Enrichment Corporation (USEC) currently employs this technology at its Pensmouth, Ohio (built in 1952) and Paducah, Kentucky (built in 1955) facilities and these two plants account for approximately 44% of the worldwide capacity. While these plants are capable of meeting enrichment services requirements in the near term, new capacity using a more modern technology will be necessary to meet U.S. utility requirements in the post-2000 time frame. One example of the need for a new technology is that power requirements for the gaseous diffusion process are vastly greater than for the gaseous centrifuge process to be used at the Claibome Enrichment Center. The energy to supply these diffusion plants currently comes from the burning of fossil fuels. Benefits from replacing such an energy intensive technology as the gaseous diffusion process with the technologically advanced and more efficient process of gaseous centrifuge can be found in reduced emissions from power plants and increased power availability to fuel economic growth.
As a U.S. utility with an expressed interest in buying U.S. products and senices, Duke Power would welcome a new, domestic source of enrichment services, especially one based on the efficient centrifuge technology. Production from this plant would prevent the United States from relying on foreign suppliers of enrichment services and would keep both jobs and dollars in the country. Duke Power also supports the LES project as a way to increase the competitiveness of the U.S.
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Enrichment Corporation, thus making USEC a mon efficient player in the market and minimizing the final cost of electricity to Duke customers. Iower cost electricity permits products from the Duke service area to be more competitive in the intemational marketplace and fosters a climate of growth.
Partners in the LES project has a proven track record for constructing enrichment facilities using the centrifuge technology. Urenco has constructed and is currently operating three plants in Europe (Almelo, Netherlands; Capenhurst, UK; and Gronau, Germany). The Claibome Enrichment Center is expected to provide an equally safe, economical, efficient and reliable supply of enrichment services.
Nuclear projects similar to the proposed Claiborne Enrichment Center have a proven history of benefits to the sunounding communities. Duke Power Company is proud ofits three existing nuclear facilities, located in both Nonh and South Carolina. In each case, the facility has provided a substantial number of high paying, high technology jobs as well as considerable tax revenues to finance infrastructure and educationalimprovements. Each of the communities surrounding these facilities would echo the fact that the plants play a positive, important role in providing steady business and employment opportunities.
The positive findings of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement agree..ith Duke Power's belief that the proposed project will be a major asset to the local economy as well as a provider of competitive services to meet the future needs of all U.S. electric utility customers. Thank you for your attention.
[ h-M. S. Tuckman 4
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