ML24047A086

News Release-II-23-014: NRC Begins Special Inspection at Urenco USA Facility

ML24047A086
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Site:	07003103
Issue date:	05/08/2023
From:	Office of Public Affairs Region II
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News Release-II-23-014
Download: ML24047A086 (1)

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No: II-23-014 May 8, 2023

Contact:

Dave Gasperson, 404-997-4417 NRC Begins Special Inspection at Urenco USA Facility

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has launched a special inspection at the Urenco USA uranium enrichment facility in Eunice, New Mexico. The inspection follows an April 21 incident involving the operation of a crane near a building that handles uranium hexafluoride without the required safety controls present.

The facility is safe, but the event raises concerns about safety protocols at the site and warrants additional NRC inspection as it involves a breakdown of controls designed to prevent chemical, radiological, and criticality ha zards - t he primary con cern at U.S. fuel cyc le facilities.

Two similar events occurred in 2022, prompting the NRC to propose Urenco U SA receive a

$70,000 civil penalty earlier this month.

The inspection began today and inspectors from the NRCs R egion II of fice i n Atlanta are at the Urenco USA plant. Over several days, the inspectors will assess the effectiveness of previous corrective actions taken by the facility to implement safety c ontrols dur ing construction activities and evaluate the appropriateness of the company's overall response.

The recurrence of safety in cidents at the Urenco USA facility is concerning, and we expect all our license holders to prioritize safety, strictly adhere to the highest standards, and take prompt action to correct deficiencies, said NRC Region II Administrator Laura Dudes. We're committed to holding all NRC license holders accountable and taking appropriate action to protect public health and safety.

The inspection team will document their findings and conclusions in a public report typically issued within 45 days of the completion of the inspection.