ML24309A081
| ML24309A081 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 11/07/2024 |
| From: | James Smith NRC/NMSS/DDUWP/URMDB |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Download: ML24309A081 (1) | |
Text
Meeting Summary - September 26, 2024 Meeting with Tronox, LLC regarding their request for NRC to verify they can receive rare earth mineral compound (REMC) and mixed rare earth product (MREP) under a general license.
Purpose:
to clarify to what level if any the REMC and MREP have been processed.
References:
Original letter to N. OKeefe, RIV dated July 10, 2024, requesting the assessment (ML24247A242) and R. Justice OIP dated July 10, 2024, regarding import of the material from Australia and South Africa. Clarification information provide via emails from Tronox dated July 11, 2024, July 12, 2024, August 2, 2024, August 15, 2024, August 30, 2024, and September 5, 2024.
Attendees:
NRC - James Smith, Senior Project Manager and Martha Poston-Brown, Senior Health Physicist Tronox - Travis Reed, PhD, Manager for Analytical Testing (OKC office); Kamal Aktau, Laboratory Chemist (Baltimore office); Chuck Christ - Research and Development Lead (OKC office) and Steve Grossman - General Counsel Meeting Summary:
Discussion of mixed rare earth product (MREP) and rare earth mineral concentrate (REMC).
NRC staff asked Tronox to explain the origin of the samples that Tronox is proposing to import via a general license in accordance with 10 CFR 40.22.
Per Mr. Aktau -
REMC-is monazite ore which would be imported from Tronox operations in Australia or South Africa that has been sifted to removed titanium sands. The titanium sands are used for magnetic components.
MREP - the Ac-227 results as part of the processing of the monzonite sands. Specifically, it is part of the non-metallic fraction of the monzonite sands extracted mechanically and chemically processed with sulfuric acids and heated at greater than 200 degrees Celsius. The resulting material is then dissolved, and the pH is adjusted to remove the phosphates. The sulfates stay with the acids and the U/Th are removed via precipitation but the Ac-227 as a lanthanide goes with the lanthanum.
Based on the information provided by Mr. Aktau - NRC staff indicated to Tronox that it appeared they could process the six 500-gram sources, containing less than 3 kg total of U/Th across all the samples, under a general license but the MREP could be considered 11.e(2) byproduct material and possess and import of that material would require a license.
Attachments ML: ML24309A081