ML23257A252
| ML23257A252 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07003103 |
| Issue date: | 09/14/2023 |
| From: | Padgett W Louisiana Energy Services, URENCO USA |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, NRC/RGN-II, Document Control Desk |
| References | |
| LES-23-125-NRC | |
| Download: ML23257A252 (1) | |
Text
LES-23-125-NRC
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission 245 Peachtree Center Ave, NE Suite 1200 Atlanta, GA 30303-1257 Louisiana Energy Services, LLC NRC Docket No. 70-3103
Subject:
Construction activities associated with upcoming site expansion plans
References:
- 1) Letter from W Padgett to NMSS notifying NRC of the intent to resume activities in the Centrifuge Assembly Building, dated 8/30/2022 (LES-22-112-NRC, ML22245A098)
- 2) Urenco USA Notice of Intent to submit License Amendment Requests for changes to License Condition 6B and Enrichment Limit, dated 04/01/2021 (LES-21-00020-NRC, ML21096A120)
- 3) Urenco USA Notice of Intent to submit License Amendment Requests to Increase Enrichment Limit for Construction of a High Assay Low Enriched Uranium Facility, dated 07/27/2023 (LES-23-100-NRC, ML23208A261)
In Reference 1, Louisiana Energy Services, LLC, dba Urenco USA (UUSA) notified NRC of the intent to resume principle licensed activities in the Centrifuge Assembly Building (CAB). The purpose for resuming CAB operations is to assemble centrifuges in order to construct cascades.
UUSA will be populating cascades 6.5 through 6.12 adding approximately 350,000 SWU to the facility capacity. Following commissioning of cascades 6.5 through 6.12, UUSA will proceed with refurbishments by replacing centrifuges in our existing cascades, bringing our site capacity to approximately 5,600,000 SWU. UUSA is also considering the construction of two new Assay Units in a future building, SBM-1007, bringing site capacity to approximately 7,600,000 SWU.
UUSAs Material License, SNM-2010 condition 11 requires notification to NRC, prior to introduction of UF6 into any module. Currently, the introduction of UF6 into cascade 6.5 is planned for the third quarter of 2025. UUSA will provide notice upon the completion of IROFSC23 for cascades 6.5 through 6.12. The review and approval of the package for IROFSC23 is the only inspection activity required. No inspections are necessary for refurbishments. Presently the construction of SBM-1007 is not expected to require an amendment to SNM-2010 and the design and construction will be similar to SBM-1005. The inspection scope for this activity, if any, is not defined. UUSA seeks to work with the NRC to achieve alignment on the inspection scope to ensure the costs are understood.
Please note that UUSA informed the NRC (Reference 2) of our intent to amend our license by proposing an increase of the enrichment limit up to 10.0 weight percent wt. % 235U in support of industry initiatives. In addition, UUSA has recently notified NRC (Reference 3) of our intent to support industry interest in using fuel with even higher enrichment values. UUSA is proceeding with the necessary changes and modifications to allow the construction of a new facility and amend our license for a proposed increase of the enrichment limit up to 20.0 wt. % 235U. Both of Louisiana Energy Services, LLC UUSA l P.O. Box 1789 l Eunice l New Mexico l 88231 l USA T: +1 (575) 394 4646 l W: www.uusa.urenco.com
© 2023 Louisiana Energy Services, LLC 1
LES-23-125-NRC these activities will require amendments to SNM-2010 and it is expected that the Readiness Reviews will be conditions of approval.
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Chris Schwarz, Licensing and Performance Assessment Manager, at 575-394-5783.
Sincerely, Digitally signed by Wyatt Wyatt Padgett Padgett Date: 2023.09.14 14:22:41 -06'00' Wyatt Padgett Compliance Manager
LES-23-125-NRC cc:
Anthony D. Masters, Director, Division of Fuel Facility Inspection U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Anthony.Masters@nrc.gov Robert Mathis, Branch Chief, Division of Fuel Facility Inspection U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Robert.Mathis@nrc.gov Samantha Lav, Branch Chief, Fuel Facility Licensing U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Samantha.Lav@nrc.gov Shana Helton, Director, Division of Fuel Management U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Shana.Helton@nrc.gov Jonathan Rowley, Senior Project Manager - UUSA U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Jonathan.Rowley@NRC.gov