ML25258A175
| ML25258A175 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07003103 |
| Issue date: | 09/22/2025 |
| From: | Ladonna Suggs NRC/RGN-II/DFRSS |
| To: | Lorskulsint P Louisiana Energy Services, URENCO USA |
| References | |
| Download: ML25258A175 (1) | |
Text
Paul Lorskulsint Chief Nuclear Officer Louisiana Energy Services (LES) dba Urenco USA (UUSA)
Urenco USA P.O. Box 1789 Eunice, NM 88231
SUBJECT:
URENCO USA - AUTHORIZATION TO INTRODUCE URANIUM HEXAFLUORIDE INTO CASCADE 6.6-6.12
Dear Paul Lorskulsint:
On August 28, 2025, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) received your letter requesting authorization to initiate feed inlet and commence operation of Assay 6, Cascade 6 (Cascade 6.6) at the Louisiana Energy Services, URENCO USA Facility located in Eunice, New Mexico (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System (ADAMS) Accession Number ML25240B534, ML25240B535). This letter confirms the U.S. NRCs authorization (provided verbally on August 28, 2025) to introduce uranium hexafluoride into Cascade 6.6 for normal and re-feed operations. This authorization is pursuant to the provisions of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR) Part 70, Paragraph 70.32(k) and 10 CFR 40.41(g) that states, No person may commence operation of a uranium enrichment facility until the Commission verifies through inspection that the facility has been constructed in accordance with the requirements of the license.
This NRC authorization is based on the results of construction and quality assurance inspections of various aspects of Assay 6 in Separation Building Module (SBM)-1005, previous operational readiness reviews performed for other cascades in SBM-1005, and the review of testing results to support operation of Cascade 6.6 completed on August 28, 2025. The results of construction and quality assurance inspections, and previous operational readiness reviews for other cascades in SBM-1005, are documented in several inspection reports listed in the enclosure to this letter (Enclosure). The inspection results for the operational readiness review of Cascade 6.6 will be documented in NRC Inspection Report 70-3103/2025-007, which should be issued no later than October 30, 2025.
The NRC staff determined that the systems, structures, and components designed to support safe operation of Cascade 6.6 were constructed in accordance with the requirements of your license. Specifically, our inspections verified that there was reasonable assurance that: (1) the design, construction, and implementation of items relied on for safety (IROFS) will protect against natural phenomena and the consequences of potential accidents; (2) the Quality Assurance Program was adequately implemented during construction; and (3) the construction of the IROFS was completed in accordance with the documents comprising the license and the Integrated Safety Analysis Summary.
September 22, 2025
P. Lorskulsint 2
Based on the inspections documented in the enclosure to this letter, the NRC has completed a sufficient inspection sample of Assay Unit 1006 Cascade construction and startup to permit the additional authorization of the remaining Cascades in Assay Unit 1006 (Cascades 6.7-6.12),
provided those Cascades use the same centrifuge design as Cascade 6.6. But it does not apply to other processes or components associated with future phases of facility operations beyond Assay Unit 1006. While the construction and startup of these Cascades will not require further authorization, they will be subject to NRC inspection as part of the NRCs routine inspection program.
This letter, its enclosure, and your response (if any) will be made available for public inspection and copying at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/adams.html and at the NRC Public Document Room in accordance with Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations 2.390, Public Inspections, Exemptions, Requests for Withholding.
Should you have any questions concerning this letter, please contact Timothy J. Sippel, at 404-997-4525.
Sincerely, LaDonna Suggs, Director Division of Fuels, Radiological Safety, and Security Docket No. 70-3103 License No. SNM-2010
Enclosure:
List of Inspection Reports for the Construction, Quality Assurance, and Operational Readiness Reviews Supporting the Authorization of Cascade 6.6-6.12 cc w/ encl: Distribution via LISTSERV Signed by Suggs, LaDonna on 09/22/25
SUNSI Review X
Non-Sensitive
Sensitive X
Publicly Available
Non-Publicly Available OFFICE RII/DFRSS RII/DFRSS NAME T. Sippel L. Suggs DATE 09/17/2025 09/22/25
Enclosure List of Inspection Reports for the Construction, Quality Assurance, and Operational Readiness Reviews Supporting the Authorization of Cascade 6.6-6.12 Report Number ADAMS Accession Number Inspection Area(s) 2006001 ML070190661 Quality Assurance Program and Geotechnical/Foundation Activities 2007001 ML071440430 Quality Assurance 2007002 ML072280647 Quality Assurance, Geotechnical/Foundation Activities, and Structural Concrete Activities 2007003 ML073060571 Quality Assurance, Structural Concrete Activities, 10 CFR Part 21 Inspection-Facility Construction, and Safety Function Interfaces 2007004 ML080670475 Quality Assurance 2008001 ML081160345 Quality Assurance, 10 CFR Part 21 Inspection-Facility Construction, Structural Concrete Activities (SBM), and Structural Steel and Support Activities (SBM) 2008002 ML081930118 Quality Assurance, Safety Function Interfaces, Geotechnical and Foundation Activities (SBM), Structural Concrete Activities (SBM-1001),
Structural Steel and Support Activities, and Structural Welding 2008003 ML083040618 Quality Assurance (SBM-1001), 10 CFR Part 21-Facility Construction, Geotechnical and Foundation Activities, Structural Concrete Activities, Structural Steel and Support Activities (SBM), Structural Welding (SBM-1001) 2008004 ML083540709 Quality Assurance (SBM) 2008005 ML090610203 Quality Assurance 2008006 ML090790642 Quality Assurance 2009001 ML090850669 Quality Assurance 2009002 ML091770643 Nuclear Welding General (SBM), Structural Welding General, Geotechnical and Foundation Activities, Structural Concrete Activities (SBM), Structural Steel and Support Activities, and Quality Assurance (SBM-1001) 2009003 ML092730612 Quality Assurance, Structural Concrete Activities, and Structural Steel and Support Activities 2009004 ML093511013 Electrical Components and Systems 2009006 ML092820188 Quality Assurance (SBM) 2009007 ML100271177 Quality Assurance (SBM) 2010001 ML101810503 Quality Assurance, Geotechnical and Foundation Activities, Structural Concrete Activities, Structural Steel and Support Activities, and Instrumentation and Control Systems 2010002 ML102700390 Quality Assurance (SBM), Geotechnical and Foundation Activities (SBM-1003), Structural Concrete Activities (SBM-1001 and SBM-1003), and Mechanical Components (Cascades 5 and 6) 2010003 ML103510562 Quality Assurance, 10 CFR Part 21-Facility Construction, and Structural Concrete Activities (SBM-1001) 2010004 ML110130336 Maintenance Observations (Cascade 2) 2010005 ML100850424 Quality Assurance, Electrical Components and Systems (SBM-1001),
Geotechnical and Foundation Activities (SBM-1001), Structural Concrete Activities (SBM-1001), and Structural Concrete Activities (SBM-1001) 2010007 ML100900329 Quality Assurance (SBM-1001), Mechanical Components (SBM-1001)
2 Report Number ADAMS Accession Number Inspection Area(s) 2010008 ML101170813 Quality Assurance (SBM-1001, Cascade 1) 2010009 ML101300087 Reactive inspection to evaluate the Commercial Grade Dedication Program 2010010 ML101480080 Quality Assurance (Cascades 2 and 3 in SBM-1001) 2010012 ML102020385 Quality Assurance (Cascades 2 and 3 in SBM-1001) 2010013 ML102320298 Quality Assurance (Cascades 3 in SBM-1001) 2010015 ML103560272 Quality Assurance (Cascades 1,2, and 3), Geotechnical and Foundation Activities (SBM-1003), Structural Concrete Activities (SBM-1003),
Mechanical Components (Cascade 3), and Electrical Components and Systems (Assay Line 2) 2011002 ML111190268 Quality Assurance (SBM-1003 and SBM-1001 Extension), Structural Steel and Supports Activities (SBM-1003), and Mechanical Components 2011003 ML112070634 Quality Assurance (Assay 2) 2011004 ML11301A218 Quality Assurance, Structural Concrete Activities (SBM 1003) and Instrumentation and Control Systems 2011005 ML12030A239 Quality Assurance, Safety Function Interfaces and 10 CFR Part 21 Inspection - Facility Construction 2011006 ML11090A037 Quality Assurance (Cascade 3, SBM-1001) Mechanical Components (Cascade 3) 2011008 ML111660886 Quality Assurance (Cascade 4 in SBM-1001) and Mechanical Components (Cascade 4) 2011009 ML11342A131 Quality Assurance (Cascades 1.5 and 1.6 in SBM-1001), Structural Concrete Activities (SBM-1003), and Mechanical Components (Cascades 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 2.1, and 2.5) 2011011 ML11263A098 Quality Assurance (Cascades 3 and 4) 2011012 ML113410075 Quality Assurance (Cascades 1.7 and 1.8) and Mechanical Components (Cascades 1.7, 1.8, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4) 2011013 ML12025A286 Quality Assurance (Cascade 1.6 and 1.7 in SBM-1001) and Structural Steel Welding and Mechanical Components (Cascades 1.7 and 1.8) 2012002 ML12121A579 Safety Operations (Review of Item Relied on for Safety (IROFS) C23 for Cascade 1.8, and 2.1 thru 2.8) and Construction (Cascade 1.7) 2012003 ML12188A105 Safety Operations (Review of IROFS C23 for Cascade 1.9, 1.10 and 1.11) and Geotechnical/Foundation (SBM-1003) 2012004 ML12304A009 Safety Operations (IROFS C23 Review for TC 21 centrifuges in Cascade 3.1) and Structural Steel (SBM-1003) 2012005 ML13030A027 Quality Assurance and Safety Operations (IROFS C23 Review for Cascades 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, and 3.6) 2013002 ML13116A175 Safety Operations (IROFS C23 Review of TC 12 for Cascades 1.1 through 1.7), Safety Operations (IROFS C23 Review of TC 21 for Cascades 3.7, 3.8, and 3.9), and Geotechnical Foundation (SBM-1005) 2013003 ML13210A291 Safety Operations (IROFS C23 Review of TC 21 for Cascades 3.10, 3.11, 3.12, and 4.1) and Structural Concrete (SBM-1005) 2013004 ML13305A074 Safety Operations (IROFS C23 Review of TC 21 for Cascades 4.2, 4.3 and 4.5)
3 Report Number ADAMS Accession Number Inspection Area(s) 2013005 ML14031A285 Safety Operations (IROFS C23 Review of TC 21 for Cascades 4.6, 4.7 and 4.8), Structural Concrete (SBM-1005), and Structural Steel and Support Activities (SBM-1005) 2013006 ML13214A141 Quality Assurance (SBM-1005) and Safety Function Interfaces (SBM-1005) 2014002 ML14115A022 Safety Operations (IROFS C23 Review of TC 21 for Cascades 4.9, 4.10, and 4.11) 2014003 ML14202A003 Safety Operations (IROFS C23 Review of TC 21 for Cascade 4.12) 2014005 ML15029A031 Quality Assurance (SBM-1005) and Safety Operations (Operational Readiness Review for SBM-1005) 2015002 ML15111A280 Plant Operations of SBM-1005 and Safety Operations (IROFS C23 Review of TC 21 for Cascades 5.1 through 5.4) 2015003 ML15210A003 Safety Operations (IROFS C23 Review of TC 21 for Cascades 5.5 through 5.8) 2015004 ML15301A020 Safety Operations (IROFS C23 Review of TC 21 for Cascades 5.9, 5.10, and 6.1) 2015006 ML15058A712 Structural Concrete Activities (SBM-1005) 2017002 ML17115A005 Safety Operations (IROFS C23 Review of TC 21 for Cascade 5.12) 2018003 ML18193A307 Safety Operations (IROFS C23 Review of TC 21 for Cascades 6.3 and 6.4) 2025006 ML25120A086 Safety Operations (IROFS C23 Review of TC 21 for Cascade 6.5) 2025007 TBD Safety Operations (IROFS C23 Review of TC 21 for Cascade 6.6)