ML26042A316
| ML26042A316 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | 07007038 |
| Issue date: | 02/25/2026 |
| From: | Stacey Imboden NRC/NMSS/DREFS/EPMB2 |
| To: | Robert Sun Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards |
| References | |
| Download: ML26042A316 (0) | |
Text
MEMORANDUM TO:
Robert Sun, Chief Environmental Project Management Branch 2 Division of Rulemaking, Environmental, and Financial Support Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards FROM:
Stacey Imboden Senior Environmental Project Manager Environmental Project Management Branch 2 Division of Rulemaking, Environmental, and Financial Support Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
AUDIT REPORT - PRE-APPLICATION READINESS ACTIVITIES, AND AGENCY INFORMATION GATHERING FOR THE PROPOSED ORANO ENRICHMENT, LLC PROJECT IKE ENRICHMENT FACILITY IN ROANE COUNTY, TENNESSEE (DOCKET NUMBER: 70-7038)
By letter dated January 30, 2026, (Agencywide Documents Access and Management System Accession No. ML26030A236), Orano Enrichment, LLC (Orano) submitted the environmental report (ER) as part of a bifurcated application for possession and use of special nuclear material at a proposed uranium enrichment facility called Project IKE in Roane County, Tennessee.
Leading up to the ER submittal, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff conducted a preapplication readiness assessment (hereinafter readiness assessment) of Oranos pre-submittal ER. A summary of the results of the readiness assessment is enclosed.
The readiness assessment is not part of the NRCs official acceptance review process for the license application. The NRC staff performed the readiness assessment to understand the level of detail in Oranos ER and to identify any major issues or information gaps. Therefore, the observations from the readiness assessment activities do not pre-determine whether the license application will be accepted and docketed.
CONTACT:
Stacey Imboden, NMSS/REFS (301) 415-2462 Docket No. 70-7038
Enclosure:
As stated February 25, 2026 Signed by Imboden, Stacey on 02/25/26
R. Sun 2
SUBJECT:
SUMMARY
AUDIT REPORT - PRE-APPLICATION READINESS ACTIVITIES, AND AGENCY INFORMATION GATHERING FOR THE PROPOSED ORANO ENRICHMENT, LLC PROJECT IKE ENRICHMENT FACILITY IN ROANE COUNTY, TENNESSEE (DOCKET NUMBER: 70-7038)
DATED:
DISTRIBUTION:
Public OSiurano-Perez, NMSS GFlanders, NMSS PDonohue, NMSS Peter Vescovi Peter.Vescovi@orano.group ADAMS Accession Number: ML26042A316
- via email OFFICIAL RECORD COPY OFFICE NMSS/REFS NMSS/REFS NMSS/DFM NMSS/REFS NMSS/REFS NAME SImboden AWalker-Smith OSiurano-Perez RSun SImboden DATE 02/11/2026 02/17/2026 02/19/2026 02/20/2026 02/25/2026 February 25, 2026
Enclosure PRE-SUBMITTAL AUDIT
SUMMARY
FOR ORANO ENRICHMENT, LLC PROPOSED APPLICATION FOR A LICENSE FOR POSSESSION AND USE OF SPECIAL NUCLEAR MATERIAL AT THE IKE ENRICHMENT FACILITY A. Location:
This pre-submittal audit was conducted through the Orano Enrichment, LLC (Orano) online reference portal and virtual meetings.
B.
Background:
Orano requested a pre-submittal audit of the available information relating to its license application. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff reviewed the available information and provided observations accordingly. A determination whether the proposed application will be acceptable or not is subject to the staff review of the officially submitted application.
C. Pre-submittal Audit Team:
Stacey Imboden, NRC, Senior Environmental Project Manager Patrick Donohue, NRC, Environmental Project Manager Beau Goldstein, NRC, Environmental Project Manager Margaret MacDonell, Argonne National Laboratory, Project Manager Sunita Kamboj, Argonne National Laboratory, Project Manager Young-Soo Chang, Argonne National Laboratory, Subject Matter Expert-Meteorology Dave LePoire, Argonne National Laboratory, Subject Matter Expert-Transportation D. Summary:
During the pre-submittal audit, the NRC staff reviewed Oranos pre-submittal environmental report (ER) and asked a number of clarifying questions. The NRC staff engaged Orano and its contractors in constructive and informative discussions on issues identified during the review of the pre-submittal ER. On December 10, 2025, and January 20, 2026, the NRC staff held virtual meetings with Orano representatives during which the NRC staff outlined observations from the review of the pre-submittal ER in the online reference portal. Orano considered the observations and made updates to the ER in advance of its submittal. The audit concluded with a meeting between Orano and NRC staff on January 26, 2026, during which Orano discussed the edits made to the ER to address each observation at a high level.
NRC staff and Orano held clarifying discussions about the following topics:
Alternatives: NRC staff asked for clarity on Oranos alternatives analysis and methods, including the rationale behind decisions to eliminate potential sites.
Hydrology and Water Quality: The NRC staff requested additional information supporting surface and groundwater contamination assumptions. Orano agreed to share site investigation results with the full application.
2 Air Quality: The NRC staff requested additional information regarding air modeling.
Orano asked about incorporation by reference of other nearby environmental impact statement, and level of detail necessary in the ER.
Visual Resources: The NRC staff asked about Oranos bare-earth viewshed assumption.
Environmental Measurements and Monitoring: NRC staff asked about proposed environmental monitoring, including methods, locations, analytes, and frequency.
Mitigation: NRC staff asked Orano about mitigation commitments, and to differentiate elective mitigation from regulatory requirements or compliance with environmental laws.
Cost-Benefit Analysis: NRC staff asked Orano about financial information regarding the construction of the facility.
Unavoidable Adverse Environmental Impacts: NRC staff and Orano discussed the need to describe these impacts.
Cumulative Impacts: NRC staff and Orano discussed potential projects included in the cumulative impacts sections and description of cumulative impacts in each resource area section.
The NRC staff believes that the audit has achieved intended outcomes. The NRC staff gained familiarity with Oranos pre-submittal ER as well as effectively communicated the NRC staffs observations for the pending application.