Press Release-10-173, NRC Issues Safety Evaluation Report for Proposed Idaho Uranium Enrichment Plant
| ML102730149 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Eagle Rock |
| Issue date: | 09/30/2010 |
| From: | Office of Public Affairs |
| To: | |
| References | |
| Press Release-10-173 | |
| Download: ML102730149 (2) | |
Text
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.10-173 September 30, 2010 NRC ISSUES SAFETY EVALUATION REPORT FOR PROPOSED IDAHO URANIUM ENRICHMENT PLANT The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued its Safety Evaluation Report (SER) for the proposed Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility in Bonneville County, Idaho.
The report contains the agency staffs conclusion that operation of the facility, as described in the application by AREVA Enrichment Services, will not pose an undue risk to worker and public health and safety.
AREVA submitted the original application for the gas centrifuge uranium enrichment plant on Dec. 30, 2008. If the NRC grants a license, the facility would be authorized to possess natural, depleted and enriched uranium and to enrich uranium up to a maximum of 5 percent uranium-235.
The NRC staffs safety review assessed whether the proposed equipment, facilities and procedures will adequately protect public health and safety. The staff evaluated AREVAs existing facility designs and procedures, nuclear material control plan, physical security plan (including transportation security), and procedures for protection of classified matter. The staff also reviewed AREVAs quality assurance program description and its emergency response plan.
Potential environmental impacts of the proposed facility will be assessed in a Final Environmental Impact Statement, which is expected to be issued in February 2011.
A draft of that report was issued for public comment in July. An Atomic Safety and Licensing Board will hold hearings through summer 2011 on safety and environmental issues addressed in the two staff reports. A decision on whether to grant a license is expected no later than January 2012.
The SER for the AREVA Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility, along with additional information on the NRC review of the application, is available on the NRC website here:
http://www.nrc.gov/materials/fuel-cycle-fac/arevanc.html.
News releases are available through a free listserv subscription at the following Web address:
http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html. The NRC homepage at www.nrc.gov also offers a SUBSCRIBE link. E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's Web site.