ML25199A203
| ML25199A203 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07007038 |
| Issue date: | 08/16/2025 |
| From: | Osiris Siurano-Perez NRC/NMSS/DFM/FFLB |
| To: | Lav S NRC/NMSS/DFM/FFLB |
| References | |
| Download: ML25199A203 (1) | |
Text
.
MEMORANDUM TO:
Samantha Lav, Chief Fuel Facility Licensing Branch Division of Fuel Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards FROM:
Osiris Siurano-Pérez, Project Manager Fuel Facility Licensing Branch Division of Fuel Management Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
OF JUNE 25, 2025, TELECONFERENCE WITH ORANO ENRICHMENT USA, LLC - DISCUSSION OF NON-FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVE SCHEDULE AND PRE-CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES On June 25, 2025, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff conducted a pre-application telephone conference call with representatives from Orano Enrichment USA, LLC (Orano), and Boston Government Services (BGS) to discuss the schedule for Endangered Species Act (ESA) section 7 consultation for the planned Project IKE Uranium Enrichment Facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Orano has been designated as the non-federal representative for ESA consultation.
Other matters discussed included potential impacts to streams, wetlands, and trees during pre-construction activities and the potential incorporation-by-reference of past documents socioeconomic sections into Oranos environmental report.
I am enclosing the conference call summary for your use. The summary does not contain sensitive information. Orano staff also reviewed this summary for factual information and/or clarifications.
Docket No.: 07007038
Enclosure:
- 1. Summary of Teleconference with Orano cc: Peter Vescovi, Orano CONTACTS: Stacey Imboden, NMSS/REFS 301-415-2462 Osiris Siurano-Pérez, NMSS/DFM 301-415-7827 August 16, 2025 Signed by Siurano-Perez, Osiris on 08/16/25
Enclosure Summary of Teleconference with Orano Enrichment USA, LLC Discussion of Non-Federal Representative Schedule and Pre-Construction Activities Date and Time: June 25, 2025; 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM Call
Participants:
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
Briana Arlene, Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards (NMSS)
Shannon Healy, NMSS Diana Diaz-Toro, NMSS Patrick Donohue, NMSS Stacey Imboden, NMSS Rob Mocko, NMSS Robert Sun, NMSS Osiris Siurano-Pérez, NMSS Orano Enrichment USA, LLC (Orano)
Peter Vescovi Damon Brewer Boston Government Services (BGS)
Lou Qualls Gary Mays
Background
During a March 18, 2025, pre-application meeting with Oranos and BGS representatives to discuss the Endangered Species Act (ESA) section 7 consultation process for Oranos proposed uranium enrichment facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee (also known as Project IKE), the Orano representatives expressed their interest in being designated as the NRCs non-federal representative (NFR) for the ESA section 7 consultation for the project. As the NRCs NFR to the consultation process, Orano, with oversight from the NRC, would support the NRC staffs environmental review of Oranos license application for Project IKE. In response to Oranos interest, the NRC staff agreed to the designation and, by letter dated April 9, 2025, (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System [ADAMS] Accession No. ML25083A179), officially notified the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) of Oranos NFR designation.
On May 27, 2025, via electronic communication, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) representatives reached out to the NRC staff to discuss a property transfer of a parcel of land in Oak Ridge, Tennessee to Orano. The DOE representatives shared pre-construction activities that Orano was planning for the parcel after the property had been transferred to them that had potential environmental impacts, such as tree clearing and potential wetland and stream filling.
In preparation for the June 25, 2025, call, on June 23, 2025, the NRC staff provided Orano a sample schedule for the NFR activities and agenda items for discussion during the call.
2 Summary of teleconference Following introduction of the meeting participants, the NRC staff discussed the use of incorporation of information, by reference, to facilitate completion of the socioeconomics Affected Environment section of Oranos environmental report (ER). Orano had previously expressed interest in gaining efficiencies by directly referencing information previously provided as part of the Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility (EREF) license application review process. The NRC staff brought up variables that may be different at the Oak Ridge site when compared to that of the EREF, such as capacity, workforce, and facility size. The NRC staff noted its interest in knowing how local factors such as housing, infrastructure, public services, and construction duration would be addressed for Project IKE since the proposed site is not the same as that proposed for the EREF and there will be obvious differences between both sites. Orano stated that they will consider these variables when incorporating any socioeconomic sections from the previously developed documents for the EREF.
Shifting topics to potential pre-construction impacts, Orano indicated that they have engaged with the FWS regarding bat protection during tree clearing activities. Orano stated that they are working with FWS to develop mitigation and avoidance measures during tree clearing, which is currently targeted for late in the first quarter in 2026.
The NRC staff then discussed the NFR sample schedule that it had provided to Orano to assist them in the ESA consultation process, including the timeline for Oranos completion of the biological assessment and request to FWS for concurrence with its ESA effect determinations.
The NRC staff also discussed the potential need to re-open consultations if new endangered species are listed or new impacts are identified before a licensing decision is made. In addition, the NRC staff discussed the implications of completing the consultation before the NRC staff completes its safety review and makes a licensing decision.
During the meeting, Orano confirmed that their plans for Project IKE remain on track for the ER submission between mid-August and mid-September 2025, with the full application expected in January 2026. As part of these plans, Orano stated that it was going to meet with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to determine the necessity of a Clean Water Act section 404 permit. In addition. Orano also stated that it planned to meet with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to discuss the potential need for mitigation for impacted wetlands and streams as well. According to Orano, preliminary wetlands delineation indicated minimal potential mitigation, with the largest wetland being 0.3 acres. The NRC staff requested that Orano inform the NRC of any relevant outcomes of these meetings.
Following this discussion, the call was adjourned at around 3:45 PM.
Action Items
- 1) For Orano:
a) BGS will add the NRC ecologist to the Orano IKE project in the FWS Information for Planning and Conservation (IPaC) system.
b) Orano will update the team on the USACE meeting outcomes regarding the section 404 permit and wetlands mitigation.
c)
Orano will complete the draft biological assessment by the end of July.
3
- 2) For NRC:
a) Generate, and provide Orano and BGS, an official ESA species list in the IPaC system.
The report will be docketed in ADAMS.
b) NRC, Orano, and BGS will meet again in early August to discuss the draft biological assessment.
PRINCIPAL CONTRIBUTORS Patrick Donohue, NMSS Stacey Imboden, NMSS Osiris Siurano-Pérez, NMSS