What is the Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRCs) role in the construction and operation of gas centrifuge enrichment plants?
Under the Atomic Energy Act, as amended, NRC must license a uranium enrichment plant under 10 CFR Parts 40 (source material) and 70 (special nuclear material). Before an applicant can begin construction of a plant, NRC must issue a license for construction and operation. To issue a license, NRC must prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project and a safety evaluation. NRC must also conduct a formal hearing before issuing a license. An application for a test or laboratory scale facility does not require an EIS or a mandatory hearing, and there are no restrictions on beginning construction. The NRC’s preliminary review indicates that the Lead Cascade facility proposed by USEC is a small-scale test and demonstration facility and not a full-scale production facility.
Related Questions
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