Press Release-10-131, NRC Public Meeting July 29 in Hobbs, N.M., to Discuss Environmental Review for Uranium Deconversion Plant

Press Release-10-131: NRC Public Meeting July 29 in Hobbs, N.M., to Discuss Environmental Review for Uranium Deconversion Plant

ML102040713
Person / Time
Issue date:	07/23/2010
From:	Office of Public Affairs
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Press Release-10-131
Download: ML102040713 (1)

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NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 E-mail: opa.resource@nrc.gov Site: http://www.nrc.gov No.10-131 July 23, 2010 NRC PUBLIC MEETING JULY 29 IN HOBBS, N.M., TO DISCUSS ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR URANIUM DECONVERSION PLANT The Nuclear Regulatory Commission seeks public comment on issues to be considered in an Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed uranium deconversion plant to be built in Lea County, N.M., and will hold a public meeting July 29 in Hobbs, N.M., to explain the agencys environmental review process.

The public meeting will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Lea County Event Center, 5101 Lovington Highway. NRC staff members will explain the environmental review process and members of the public will be invited to identify any significant environmental issues they believe should be addressed in the study.

International Isotopes Fluorine Products Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of International Isotopes Inc., submitted an application Dec. 30, 2009, for a license to construct, operate and eventually decommission a fluorine-extraction and uranium deconversion plant in Lea County.

The plant would process depleted uranium hexafluoride tails from the enrichment of uranium for production of commercial nuclear reactor fuel. The processed depleted uranium would then be in a form more stable and suitable for disposal. International Isotopes intends to sell the extracted fluorine for industrial uses.

A notice of intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement was published July 15 in the Federal Register. In addition to oral comments at the July 29 meeting, comments may be submitted in writing through Aug. 30, through the federal rulemaking website, http://www.regulations.gov, by searching for Docket ID NRC-2010-0143; by mail to Cindy Bladey, Chief, Rules, Announcements and Directives Branch, Division of Administrative Services, Office of Administration, Mail Stop: TWB-05-B01M, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, D.C., 20555-0001; or by e-mail to INIS_EIS@nrc.gov. Commenters are requested to include Docket ID NRC-2010-0143 in the subject line of their comments.

NOTE: Anyone wishing to take photos or use a camera to record any portion of a NRC meeting should contact the Office of Public Affairs beforehand.

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