The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued the license for Areva’s $2.4 billion uranium enrichment plant on October 12.
The action by the federal agency will allow the firm to ink the final term sheet of its $2 billion federal loan guarantee with the U.S. Department of Energy.
Some work on the site some 18 miles west of Idaho Falls will likely begin before the snow flies on the Arco desert. The project is expected to enter revenue service by 2014.
The NRC said in a statement . . .
“The license for the Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility authorizes AES to enrich uranium up to 5 percent by weight in the fissile isotope U-235 for use in the manufacture of nuclear fuel for commercial nuclear power reactors. AES plans to begin construction in 2012.”
Areva submitted its application Dec. 30, 2008. The NRC staff completed thorough safety and environmental reviews of the proposed facility.
A Safety Evaluation Report (NUREG-1951) was published in September 2010, with the staff’s conclusion that the proposed facility complies with NRC regulations and would not pose an undue risk to the health and safety of workers or the public.
An Environmental Impact Statement (NUREG-1945) was published in February 2011, with the determination that there would be no significant environmental impacts that would preclude licensing of the facility.
A three-judge Atomic Safety and Licensing Board conducted a hearing on the application, with evidentiary sessions on the safety review in January 2011 and on the environmental review in July. The ASLB issued its decision authorizing the staff to issue the license Oct. 7.
There will be cheers in Idaho Falls tonight.
# # #
6 comments:
It is sad to see our government support a foreign nuke company (which is 90% owned by the French government) with loans and licenses, but they will not support a domestic nuclear company that is building a similar plant.
The USEC effort could very well be a looser from a business-investment standpoint. Uranium Enrichment is the highest-margin segment of the entire fuel cycle. The fact that USEC is unable to find partners willing to take the customary business risk is troubling. It might be better for the industry if DOE were to take a pass on the American Centrifuge and focus its political capital on more promising nuclear endeavors such as the two very-promising light-water SMRs. We do not (as an industry) want our own Solyndra.
USEC has private investors backing them however not enough capital to cover the costs of the entire plant. For national security reasons, however, DOE must operate, or have an operable, enrichment facility. Once Paducah shuts down next year or the year after, it will be interesting what they plan to do if ACP doesn't fly. GE's global laser enrichment technology?
But the SMRs do look very promising. and I agree with you that we don't want another Solyndra happening, especially in this industry. Fukushima was enough for a while.
My comment regarded the "quality" of the investors, not their existence. Backing USEC only in the event that they get a government loan gaurantee is not a vote of confidence.
They should start construction now. Winter weather does not have to stop them.They worked right through winter on all the projects at the INL.
They'll start the site-prep work which does not cost much and improves the value of the land. I would not expect to see them go beyond that point until after France announces its intentions.
Post a Comment