Nuclear Fuel Fabrication - Current Issues (USA) 
(last updated 12 May 2008)
Contents:
> See also Current Issues for
> See also Regulatory Issues - USA
TVEL aims to sell nuclear fuel in the US market by 2014
> See here
(for UF6 transport, see extra page)
Truck hauling low-grade uranium overturns on U.S. highway exit in North Carolina
On Dec. 21, 2006, a tractor-trailer hauling about 6,000 pounds (2,700 kilograms) of low-grade uranium overturned as it exited a major U.S. interstate highway south of Raleigh, North Carolina, but the crash did not pose a threat to the public, authorities said.
The truck crashed onto its side after the driver lost control on an exit ramp along Interstate 95, said Jason Barbour, Johnston County's emergency communications director.
The truck was carrying a radioactive material called packaged fissile, Highway Patrol spokesman Lt. Everett Clendenin said. The powdered uranium was packed in containers that weren't breached by the accident, he said.
The uranium was being transported by Portsmouth Marine Terminal, from Portsmouth, Virginia, to Global Nuclear Fuels in Wilmington, North Carolina.
(The International Herald Tribune Dec. 22, 2006)
Truck carrying nuclear fuel assemblies overturned on Interstate 80 in Utah
On June 8, 2004, at 5:30 am EDT, a tractor trailer carrying a sea land container which contained twelve recently manufactured fuel assemblies overturned on Interstate 80 at mile marker 34 in Tooele County, Utah. The unirradiated fuel assemblies were being transported from GNF's nuclear fuel facility in Wilmington, North Carolina, to Oakland, California for shipment to Japan. The licensee reported that both drivers were injured but there did not appear to be any damage to the overturned sea land container.
(NRC PNO-II-04-004, June 8, 2004)
The shipment was driven back to Wilmington. GNF performed a limited visual inspection of the RAJ-II containers that could be seen through the open top and doors of the sea land, and stated there did not appear to be any significant damage to these containers. GNF plans to unload the sea land container and fully inspect the RAJ-II packages.
(NRC PNO-II-04-004A, June 14, 2004)
In October 2007, DOE released a supplement analysis for its Disposition of Surplus Highly Enriched Uranium Final Environmental Impact Statement, DOE/EIS-0240, June 1996. This supplement analysis (SA) summarizes the status of HEU disposition activities conducted to date and evaluates the potential impacts of continued program implementation. In addition, this SA considers the potential environmental impacts of proposed new DOE/NNSA initiatives to support the surplus HEU disposition program. Specifically, DOE/NNSA is proposing new end-users for existing program material,
new disposal pathways for existing program HEU discard material, and down-blending additional quantities of HEU.
> Download Supplement Analysis for the Disposition of Highly Enriched Uranium, DOE/EIS-0240-SA1, October 2007 
(181k PDF)
U.S. DOE awards contract for downblending of U.S. Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) for commercial reactor use
On June 29, 2007, the Department of Energy awarded a contract to convert 17.4 metric tons of bomb-grade uranium stored in Tennessee into low-enriched fuel for civilian reactors overseas.
The highly enriched material is now held at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant in Oak Ridge. It will be diluted or "downblended" at Nuclear Fuels Services in Erwin, Tennessee, then shipped for storage to Westinghouse Electric Company's fuel fabrication plant in Columbia, South Carolina.
The downblending work at Nuclear Fuel Services is to begin later this year and be completed by 2010.
(AP Jun 29, 2007)
DOE plans downblending of enriched uranium for reactor fuel
More than 17 tons of highly enriched uranium currently stored at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant will be "down-blended" to eliminate its weapons capability and make it available for reactor fuel.
The government unveiled the three-year project earlier this week, and in December 2006 or January 2007 will solicit companies interested in bidding on the work.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the 17.4 short tons [15.8 t] of HEU will be converted into about 290 short tons [263 t] of low-enriched uranium with an estimated value of $750 million. The uranium stocks to be used in the down-blending project have an enrichment that ranges from about 20 percent up to 93.3 percent. The materials will be mixed with lesser stocks of uranium to reduce the enrichment to 4.95 percent U-235, a level suitable for use in commercial power reactors.
(The Knoxville News Sentinel Nov. 11, 2006)
> View: Presolicitation Notice - Down Blend of Highly Enriched Uranium and Establishment of Reliable Fuel Supply, Nov. 8, 2006
BWX Technologies completes downblending of weapons-grade uranium
Two private companies announced on July 13, 2006, they have finished converting 50 metric tons of weapons-suitable highly enriched uranium to uranium that can be used by commercial nuclear power plants.
The conversion by mixing the highly enriched uranium with depleted uranium was conducted by BWX Technologies at its facility in Lynchburg, Va., for the USEC Inc., the uranium enrichment company that supplies reactor fuel for the nuclear industry.
About 660 metric tons of low-enriched uranium was produced and already has been provided to dozens of utilities to be used in power reactors.
Separately, the Energy Department is providing 39 tons of highly enriched uranium to the Tennessee Valley Authority, which, after converting it (at NFS' Erwin Tn., plant), uses it in TVA's power reactors. About half of that amount already has been converted.
(AP July 14, 2006)
DOE to release 20 Metric Tons of Highly Enriched Uranium for Downblending
On Nov. 7, 2005, Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman announced that the Department of Energy's (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) will remove up to 200 metric tons (MT) of Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU), in the coming decades, from further use as fissile material in U.S. nuclear weapons and prepare this material for other uses.
About 20 MT will be down-blended to low enriched uranium (LEU) for eventual use in civilian nuclear power reactors, research reactors or related research. The other material will be used for Naval Reactors or for Space Programs.
(DOE Nov. 7, 2005)
DOE considers downblending of 100 short tons of HEU stored at Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Hearing: DOE Nuclear Security: What Are the Challenges, and What's Next?
U.S. House of Representatives, The Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, May 11, 2004:
Witness Testimony: The Honorable Kyle E. McSlarrow, Deputy Secretary, US Department of Energy
"[...] Third, we need to explore whether we can down-blend
substantial quantities of our HEU holdings. Potentially, this
could yield a number of security benefits, but the
programmatic impact of a major campaign of down-blending
needs to be assessed. We have also directed NNSA to
conduct a study to assess the down-blending of large
quantities, perhaps as much as 100 tons, of the HEU stored
at Y-12 and to assess the programmatic impacts of such a
large campaign."
DOE/EIS-0240 - Disposition of Surplus Highly Enriched Uranium Final Environmental Impact Statement, (June 1996)
> Download DOE/EIS-0240 Summary, 1996 (5MB PDF - FAS)
> View DOE Record of Decision (Federal Register: August 5, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 151) p. 40619-40629):
"SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) has decided to implement a
program to make surplus highly enriched uranium (HEU) non-weapons-usable by blending it down to low-enriched uranium (LEU), as specified
in the Preferred Alternative in the Disposition of Surplus Highly
Enriched Uranium Final Environmental Impact Statement (HEU Final EIS,
DOE/EIS-0240, June 1996). DOE will gradually sell up to 85 percent of
the resulting LEU over time for commercial use as fuel feed for nuclear
power plants to generate electricity (including 50 metric tons of HEU
and 7,000 tons of natural uranium that will be transferred to the
United States Enrichment Corporation), and will dispose of the
remaining LEU as low-level radioactive waste. This program applies to a
nominal 200 metric tons of United States-origin HEU that the President
has declared, or may declare, surplus to defense needs. [...]"
> See also:
- Uranium Downblending · Uranium Downblending Calculator
- USEC : Megatons to Megawatts · USEC-DOE HEU PROGRAM
- U.S. Higly Enriched Uranium Disposition (NTI)
- DOE Highly Enriched Uranium Disposition Program Office
- DOE Office of Fissile Materials Disposition (?)
- Highly Enriched Uranium: Striking A Balance - A Historical Report on the United States Highly Enriched Uranium Production, Acquisition, and Utilization Activities from 1945 through September 30, 1996 , U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Office of the Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs, January 2001 (released on FOIA request)
- HEU downblending at Savannah River Site, Aiken, South Carolina
- NFS Blended Low-Enrichment Uranium (BLEU) project, Erwin, Tennessee
- Downblending of Highly Enriched Uranium at BWXT Lynchburg nuclear fuel plant
- Downblending of Russian HEU for use in U.S. nuclear power plants
NRC License No. SNM-1097, Docket No. 07001113
Aerial View: Google Maps · Terraserver
> See also: GE Silex laser isotope separation enrichment demonstration facility project in Wilmington, North Carolina
Violation of criticality rules at GNF Wilmington nuclear fuel plant
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has established a Special Inspection Team at the Global Nuclear Fuel - Americas commercial nuclear fuel plant near Wilmington, N.C., to inspect and assess facts and circumstances associated with an event in which moisture was detected on Jan. 30, 2008, in a process vessel which should not have contained moisture so as to prevent a nuclear criticality.
> View NRC release Feb. 1, 2008
GNF requests 40-year license renewal for Wilmington nuclear fuel plant
On April 2, 2007, Global Nuclear Fuel - Americas, L.L.C., requested a 40-year license renewal for its Wilmington nuclear fuel plant, North Carolina.
Notice of License Renewal Request for Global Nuclear Fuel -- Americas, LLC, Wilmington, North Carolina, and Opportunity To Request a Hearing.
A request for a hearing must be filed by August 17, 2007.
Federal Register: June 18, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 116) p. 33539-33541 (download full text )
NRC License No. SNM-1107, Docket No. 07001151
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Westinghouse Electric Co plans construction of new dry conversion process at Columbia nuclear fuel plant (South Carolina)
By letter dated July 3, 2007, Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC (WEC) notified the NRC that it plans to install a new Dry Conversion Process at the Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility (CFFF). WEC has an existing dry conversion process within the main manufacturing building at the CFFF that was operated from approximately 1985 to 1995. This facility was mothballed in place for business
reasons. Rather than restoring the current processing equipment, WEC plans to construct a new building within its Controlled Access Area to meet current industry codes and standards.
Employee burned with hydrofluoric acid at Westinghouse Electric Co's Columbia nuclear fuel plant (South Carolina)
On February 26, 2007, an employee was burnt with hydrofluoric acid (HF) and sent to the hospital for treatment. The root cause of the event was determined to be that the uranium hexafluoride (UF6) cylinder valve failed to seat.
(WEC/NRC, Dec. 18, 2007)
Westinghouse Electric Co requests 20-year license renewal for Columbia nuclear fuel plant (South Carolina)
NRC issues notice of license renewal request of Westinghouse Electric
Company, Columbia, SC, and opportunity to request a hearing.
Federal Register: December 29, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 249) p. 77195-77197 (download full text )
On April 19, 2007, the NRC staff issued an Environmental Assessment concluding that the renewal of the license will not result in a significant impact to the environment.
NRC proposes $24,000 fine for violations of criticality safety procedures
> View NRC release Jul 30, 2004
> Download NRC INSPECTION REPORT NO. 70-1151/2004-001 (May 13, 2004) (PDF)
> Download IR 07001151-04-001, Corrected page 18 (June 1, 2004) (PDF)
> Download June 3, 2004, Predecisional Enforcement Conference presentation slides (PDF)
> Download Notice of Violation and Proposed Imposition of Civil Penalty, EA-04-096 (July 28, 2004) (PDF)
ATSDR assessment finds no contamination in off-site groundwater from the Savannah River Site
The federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has found no contamination in off-site groundwater from the Savannah River Site (SRS). While site-related contaminants were detected in off-site surface water, they pose no health concern. In the course of its investigation, ATSDR also found naturally occurring radium in the municipal drinking water at levels that could pose health concerns, especially for infants drinking formula and juice mixed with tap water. In December 2006, authorities removed from service the well where radium was found.
> View ATSDR release Dec. 21, 2007
> Download Public Health Assessment (PDF)
> see also: Downblending of U.S. Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) for commercial reactor use
HEU downblending starts at Savannah River Site
The first step in a government program to convert weapons-grade uranium into electricity has begun at Savannah River Site.
The process involves combining the excess uranium, which has been chemically enriched, with natural uranium to make low-enriched uranium fuel. The fuel will be used in Tennessee Valley Authority nuclear reactors.
In order to get the uranium into its new form and ready for shipment, SRS built or modified buildings for purifying, blending and loading the material.
(Augusta Chronicle May 22, 2003)
NRC License No. SNM-42, Docket No. 07000027
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NRC releases old event reports for BWXT Lynchburg nuclear fuel plant (Virginia)
On May 12, 2008, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission released event notification reports for two nuclear fuel fabrication facilities, Nuclear Fuel Services (NFS) in Erwin, Tenn., and BWX Technologies (BWXT) in Lynchburg, Va., for the period 2004 - 2007, which were previously withheld for security reasons.
> View NRC release No. 08-091, May 12, 2008
NRC finds further violation of criticality safety procedures at BWXT Lynchburg nuclear fuel plant
"...on October 22, 2007, the licensee failed to conduct operations
according to administrative limits (e.g., quantity of containers and moderating materials)
established by NCS and provided on an NCS posting. Specifically, a 2.5 liter container
and a zip lock bag were observed in the Cyclone Glovebox, located in the Specialty
Fuels Facility. The NCS posting on the Cyclone Glovebox limits the glovebox to a
maximum of one container with a volume less than or equal to 2.5 liters and also limits
the moderating materials permitted in the glovebox to only materials that are necessary
for normal operations."
(NRC Inspection Report No. 70-27/2007-205, Nov. 14, 2007)
NRC finds further violation of criticality safety procedures at BWXT Lynchburg nuclear fuel plant; proposes $32,500 fine
The apparent violation involved the failure to analyze the nuclear criticality safety associated with the transfer of Raschig ring vacuum cleaners at the facility. This condition was identified on July 26, 2007, when a Raschig ring vacuum cleaner spilled its contents of special nuclear material-bearing solution, during transfer, into an attached plastic bag being used for contamination control. The failure to analyze the transfer activity resulted in special nuclear material-bearing solution being in a condition without any nuclear criticality safety controls. (NRC Inspection Report No. 70-27/2007-006, October 19, 2007)
On Jan. 24, 2008, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Thursday proposed a $32,500 fine against BWX Technologies for this violation of NRC safety requirements.
> View NRC release Jan. 24, 2008
NRC announces notice of license amendment, and opportunity to request a hearing for exemption to criticality accident requirements at BWX Technologies, Inc. Lynchburg nuclear fuel plant
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received, by letter dated May 2, 2007, a license amendment application from BWX Technologies, Inc. (BWXT), requesting an exemption to the requirements of 10 CFR 70.24, Criticality Accident Requirements, in its materials license, at its Mt. Athos site located in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Federal Register: July 3, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 127) p. 36515-36516 (download full text )
On Nov. 30, 2007, NRC issued an Environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI).
Federal Register: December 7, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 235) p. 69234-69236 (download full text )
Federal Register: December 13, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 239) p. 70899-70900 (download full text )
License renewal
Notice of Issuance of Renewed License, BWX Technologies, Inc., Lynchburg, VA
Federal Register: April 6, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 66), p. 17195 (download full text )
Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for License Renewal for BWX Technologies, Inc., Lynchburg, VA
Federal Register: March 31, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 62) p. 16348-16349 (download full text )
The NRC provides notice that this is a proceeding on an application for a license amendment regarding the license renewal for BWX Technologies, Inc.
Federal Register: March 6, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 43) p. 11231-11232 (download full text )
NRC again finds further violation of criticality safety procedures at BWXT Lynchburg nuclear fuel plant
On Feb. 7, 2005, NRC issued a Notice of Violation to BWXT for violating the criticality safety procedures in the scrap material storage cabinet.
NRC again finds further violation of criticality safety procedures at BWXT Lynchburg nuclear fuel plant
On March 31, 2004, NRC inspectors observed special nuclear material in a storage location not in conformance with the nuclear criticality safety posting requirement.
NRC finds further violation of criticality safety procedures at BWXT Lynchburg nuclear fuel plant
On March 2, 2004, NRC inspectors observed special nuclear material in a storage location not in conformance with the nuclear criticality safety posting control requirement.
NRC finds violation of criticality safety procedures at BWXT Lynchburg nuclear fuel plant
During an inspection held on Feb. 9-13, 2004, the U.S. NRC identified a violation of the prescribed criticality safety procedures: an item had been introduced into the Uranium Recovery facility without the required Nuclear Criticality Safety review and approval.
NRC issues Environmental Assessment and FONSI to approve the Final Status Survey Plan and Decommissioning Plan for Industrial Waste Landfill 1 at BWXT Lynchburg nuclear fuel plant
Federal Register: November 14, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 220) p. 64665-64668
(download full text )
NRC cites BWXT for inoperable criticality monitors in Lynchburg nuclear fuel plant
> View NRC enforcement document: EA-03-119 - BWX Technologies, Inc. (Aug. 11, 2003)
> Download related NRC Information Notice: IN 2003-10 (Aug. 4, 2003) (PDF)
NRC relaxes air monitoring requirements for BWXT Lynchburg nuclear fuel plant
> Federal Register: October 2, 2002 (Vol. 67, No. 191) p. 61929-61931 (download full text )
"Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact of License Amendment for BWX Technologies, Inc.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering the amendment
of Special Nuclear Material License SNM-42 to authorize elimination of
Lynchburg Technology Center (LTC) stack continuous monitoring and
revise other air monitoring stack action levels at the BWX
Technologies, Inc., facility located in Lynchburg, VA, and has prepared
an Environmental Assessment in support of this action."
The license amendment was issued on September 30, 2002.
Two uranium fuel plants in Lynchburg, Virginia, and Erwin, Tennessee, must immediately adopt stricter anti-terrorist measures such as more guards, vehicle barriers and patrols, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said on Aug. 22, 2002.
The plants, owned by BWX Technologies Inc. and Nuclear Fuel Services, take enriched uranium and make it into fuel for nuclear reactors.
The NRC said it ordered the two plants to adopt similar measures already put in place by U.S. nuclear power plants as a precaution after the Sept. 11 attacks. (Reuters Aug. 22, 2002)
> View NRC release Aug. 22, 2002
> Federal Register: August 27, 2002 (Vol. 67, No. 166) p. 55039-55040 (download full text )
> see also: Downblending of U.S. Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU) for commercial reactor use
NRC issues license amendment for HEU metal dissolution facility
Federal Register: January 16, 2002 (Vol. 67, No. 11), p. 2251-2254 (download full text ):
"Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact of
License Amendment for BWX Technologies, Inc., and Notice of Opportunity
To Request a Hearing
ACTION: Amendment of BWX Technologies, Inc., Materials License SNM-42
to authorize the installation and use of the Metal Dissolution
Facility."
The Metal Dissolution Facility (MDF) is required for the dissolution of high enriched uranium (HEU) metal to support BWXT's downblending operations.
The license amendment was issued on January 25, 2002.
License No. SNM-33, Docket No. 07000036
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> View more recent issues
The nuclear fuel plant in Hematite, Missouri, was closed in summer 2001. The plant was formerly owned by CE Nuclear Power LLC and is now owned by BNFL/Westinghouse.
On June 10, 2000, a plant operator at the CE Nuclear Power LLC's Fuel Fabrication Facility in Hematite, Missouri, identified that several "erbia" pellets were mixed in with a normal lot of uranium oxide pellets. Erbia pellets are used in fuel assemblies as neutron absorbers and the erbia manufacturing process line is separate from the uranium oxide process lines." [...]
"The licensee's investigation team has not yet completed its onsite activity; however, sufficient information has been obtained to conclude that the mixing of erbia pellets was a deliberate act."
NRC PNO June 16, 2000
"On May 22, 2000, Westinghouse-Hematite fuel fabrication facility in the
U.S. shipped a presumed empty pellet container (drum) to Westinghouse Atom
AB in Sweden. When the container was opened in Sweden for re-filling, it
was found to contain almost 40 kg of fresh fuel pellets. The pellets are
believed to have been produced originally in Sweden and then delivered to
Hematite, where they should have been removed. The container should then
have been returned to Sweden empty. A preliminary investigation at Hematite
indicates that the pellets were natural uranium with gadolinium, however
the paper trail is unclear. Because the drum was thought to be empty,
standard procedures for nuclear material shipments were not followed. The
Swedish nuclear authorities are also investigating the incident. They plan
to analyze the pellets and will report the results to us. The investigation
in the U.S. is continuing." (NRC Weekly Information Report For the Week Ending June 30, 2000)
"ABB's fuel fabrication plant at Hematite, Missouri, is to close, consolidating
most of Westinghouse's US fuel operations at its Columbia plant in South Carolina. Westinghouse is owned by BNFL, and ABB finalised the sale of its nuclear activities to BNFL last week." (UI News Briefing 00.20, May 17, 2000)
(formerly Framatome ANP, Framatome Cogema Fuels)
License No. SNM-1168, Docket No. 07001201
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Framatome ANP applies for relaxed criticality safety requirements at Lynchburg nuclear fuel plant
On Feb. 27, 2004, Framatome ANP applied for a license amendment to increase the Keff limit, a parameter describing the criticality safety. Framatome requests an increase of the Keff limit for credible abnormal conditions from 0.95 to 0.98 and the Keff limit for normal conditions from 0.87 to 0.95.
On Oct. 4, 2004, Framatome ANP withdrew the license amendment application.
NRC issues EA and FONSI for License Renewal of Framatome ANP Lynchburg plant
Federal Register: May 7, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 88) p. 24521 (view full text )
NRC to issue Finding of No Significant Impact
No requests for a hearing were received. Based on an evaluation of the environmental impacts of the renewal request, the NRC has determined that the proper action is to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact. (NRC Memorandum April 2, 2003)
NRC issues Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment, and Notice of Opportunity for a Hearing
Federal Register: August 9, 2002 (Vol. 67, No. 154) p. 51894-51895
(view full notice )
(formerly Framatome ANP, Siemens Power Corp.)
License No. SNM-1227, Docket No. 07001257
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NRC Facility Info (Decommissioning)
License renewal for AREVA NP Inc. Richland nuclear fuel plant
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received, by
letter dated October 24, 2006, a license renewal application from AREVA
NP, Inc. (AREVA), requesting renewal of License No. SNM-1227 at its
Richland fuel fabrication facility located in Richland, Washington.
AREVA requested renewal of their license for a period of 40 years [!].
Any person whose interest may be affected by this
proceeding and who desires to participate as a party must file a
written request for a hearing and a specification of the contentions
which the person seeks to have litigated in the hearing. A request for a hearing must be filed by May 14, 2007.
Federal Register: March 15, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 50) p. 12202-12204
(download full text )
Workers Exposed To Hydrogen Fluoride (HF) Release
On Oct. 23, 2006, two workers were exposed to HF leaking from a cracked weld of conversion process line 3. One of the two workers was subsequently hospitalized for exposure to HF vapor. On October 26, 2006, evidence of a second crack was found in the weld near the original crack in the line 3 equipment. The licensee shut down line 3 conversion operations.
> Download NRC PNO-II-06-004, Oct. 26, 2006 (ADAMS Acc. No. ML063050036)
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff is scheduled to meet with representatives of AREVA NP, Inc. on Thursday, April 12, 2007, to discuss apparent violations of agency requirements involving a small hydrogen fluoride release at the company's Richland, Wash., facility in late October 2006.
> View NRC release April 6, 2007
Uranium container falls off truck at Richland
A cargo container filled with about 4.5 short tons of uranium oxide powder fell off a truck leaving Richland's Framatome ANP nuclear fuel plant on Sep. 26, 2005, but company and state officials said there was no sign the toxic material inside had escaped. The accident happened about 3 p.m. when the cargo container fell from a flatbed truck as it pulled out of the plant's gate, said Chris Powers, a project manager for Framatome, which also is known as Areva.
(Tri City Herald Sep 27, 2005)
See also: NRC Preliminary Notification of Event or Unusual Occurrence PNO-II-2005-007, September 27, 2005
Import of radioactive waste from Germany for uranium extraction and incineration
On October 16, 2003, the U.S. NRC issued import license IW009, authorizing Framatome ANP Inc. to import 1200 kilograms Class A Radioactive Waste consisting of combustible materials (paper, wood, clothing, plastic) contaminated with low enriched uranium (LEU) oxide powder, enriched to 5% w/o maximum, generated during the LEU fuel fabrication process (conversion of UF6; production of UO2 powder; pressing UO2 powder into pellets; and loading pellets into fuel assemblies).
The waste originates from Advanced Nuclear Fuels GmbH (ANF), Lingen, Germany.
Framatome ANP Inc. will incinerate contaminated combustible materials to recover uranium. Slightly contaminated non-combustibles from processing will be returned to ANF in Germany, in accordance with NRC export license XW005 (issued Oct. 17, 2003). Arrangements for disposal of low-level radioactive waste at the US Ecology, Inc facility in Richland, Washington are in place.
Small fire in the feed hopper of the solid waste uranium recovery incinerator at Framatome ANP Richland, WA, nuclear fuel plant
"On February 20, 2003, at approximately 0630 hrs., a small fire occurred in the feed hopper of the solid waste uranium recovery incinerator involving a cardboard waste box, containing about 9.75 grams of U-235, which caught fire before it was fully fed into a waste incinerator. [...] There was no release of radioactive material from the facility as demonstrated by stack air sample results and samples taken from the roof and surroundings. The two employees in the facility were checked and no detectable contamination identified. [...]"
(NRC Preliminary Notification PNO-IV-03-014, Feb. 21, 2003)
"On April 3, 2002, the licensee reported the loss of a criticality control (neutron absorbing poison) on a
45 gallon [170 litre] drum of UO2 powder in the UO2 processing building on April 2, 2002. [...] The filled drum contained 250 kg of powder from floor sweepings and dried grinder sludge that was to be reprocessed. [...] According to the licensee, a criticality in the affected drum could theoretically be possible only had the moisture content been over ten times the process limit, or over fifty times the actual moisture content of
the affected drum. [...]"
(NRC preliminary notification of event or unusual occurrence -- PNO-IV-02-019,
April 4, 2002)
"On April 18, 2002, the onsite portion of a reactive inspection was completed at Framatome, ANP
Richland [...] The inspection confirmed that corrective actions taken
by the licensee were adequate to continue the dry powder loading operations. However, the
NRC engaged the licensee at the preliminary exit briefing and by telephone conference call on
April 23, 2002, to request additional followup actions to address potential broader concerns
related to procedures and management controls at the facility.[...]"
(NRC Weekly Information Report for the Week Ending April 26, 2002 - emphasis added)
On August 30, 2002, NRC imposed a $15,000 civil penalty on Framatome ANP.
> View NRC EA-02-099, Aug. 28, 2002
In consequence of the merger of the nuclear businesses of Siemens and Framatome into Framatome ANP (Framatome 66%, Siemens 34%), Siemens Power Corp becomes Framatome ANP Richland, Inc. (Framatome/Siemens news release 31 Jan 2001 PDF)
On November 9, 2000, Siemens Power Corp. reported the loss of criticality mass limit controls identified during an accountability audit of waste material transfers in the waste handling and packaging area the previous day.
(NRC Preliminary Notification PNO-IV-00-031, Nov 9, 2000 )
On October 12, 2000, Siemens Power Corp. reported the loss of criticality mass limit controls identified during operations in the Modular Extraction/Recovery Facility (MERF) the previous day.
(NRC Preliminary Notification PNO-IV-00-027, October 13, 2000 )
On June 29, 2000, a range fire approached the Siemens Richland, WA, nuclear fuel plant to 800 meters. Plant production circuits were shutdown and non-essential personnel was evacuated. (NRC Preliminary Notification PNO-IV-00-016, June 29, 2000 )
By letter dated April 26, 2000, Siemens Power Corporation (SPC) is requesting a license amendment to increase the allowed transuranic activity (from Plutonium and Neptunium) for the UF6 feedstock processed at its Richland, WA, nuclear fuel plant. SPC requests a 15-fold increase from 3.3 to 50 Bq/g U.
The transuranics are introduced into the feedstock through uranium reprocessed from spent nuclear fuel. For Np-237, 50 Bq correspond to 1.9 µg, for Pu-239, 50 Bq correspond to 0.022 µg.
For enrichments above 2.18 weight-%, the 1 µg Pu per g U-235 criterion of 10 CFR 50.2 would be met; and for 3% enriched uranium, the dose from inhalation of the material would increase by 0.65% compared to pure uranium, according to SPC.
> Retrieve 10 CFR 50.2: via NRC (Note: "106 grams" should read "10-6 grams") · via GPO (look for Production facility)
> SPC letter and attachments available through ADAMS (Docket No. 07001257)
> See also Properties of UF6
Siemens withdraws license application for use of waste solutions as fertilizer
In a letter to NRC, dated Nov. 30, 2000, Siemens Power Corp. (SPC) withdraws its application, dated May 19, 1999, for a license amendment to allow release of ammonium hydroxide / ammonium nitrate (AH/AN) solution for use as fertilizer. SPC has committed to the State of Washington to pursue non-agricultural uses for this material.
WA Department of Agriculture Registers Siemens Fertilizer
A liquid fertilizer produced by Siemens Power Corp. (SPC) at its commercial nuclear fuel plant in Richland was registered on June 23, 2000, by the Washington State Department of Agriculture; the stop-sale, ordered on February 11, 2000, is rescinded.
"According to the Department of Health (DOH), use of Siemens' ammonium hydroxide product as a fertilizer will have no adverse impacts on public health or the environment when used as directed. DOH found the level of uranium measured in a test sample was 250 times lower than the maximum level of 0.05 parts per million allowed in Siemens' U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission license. In analyzing the product for radiological constituents, results showed the solution contains significantly less uranium than found naturally in soil and is exempt from the DOH's radioactive materials licensing requirements."
(WSDA News Release, June 23, 2000)
WA Department of Agriculture Issues Stop-sale Order for Uranium-containing Fertilizer Product
On Feb. 11, 2000, the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) issued a statewide stop-sale order to Siemens Power Corporation of Richland regarding the unauthorized distribution of an unregistered, hazardous waste-derived fertilizer.
The product is an ammonium hydroxide solution that is a waste material from the production of nuclear reactor fuel.
WSDA is taking this action after discovering that Siemens Power
Corporation has been distributing the waste product for use as a
fertilizer since 1996. The stop sale and distribution order is issued
under WSDA's authority to prohibit distribution of unregistered
fertilizers in the state.
> View WSDA News Release (Feb. 11, 2000)
Siemens' Richland, WA, nuclear fuel plant plans to sell waste solutions as fertilizer
"Washington State Comments on Draft Environmental Assessment on Release of Solutions at Siemens Nuclear Fuel Facility
On January 4, 2000, the Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards (FCSS)
received a letter dated December 27, 1999, from the Washington State
Departments of Health and Ecology commenting on the draft Environmental
Assessment associated with a proposal by Siemens to sell solutions
containing trace amounts of uranium as fertilizer. The state raises a
number of concerns about the proposal, including state jurisdiction over
such releases. FCSS plans to discuss the concerns with the licensee and the
state. Once the comments have been adequately addressed, a final decision
will be made relative to the acceptability of the Siemens' proposal."
(U.S. NRC Weekly Information Report for the week ending Jan. 14, 2000)
The solutions have concentrations of uranium enriched to 5% of up to 0.05 mg/l.
> Background documents available at ADAMS (Docket No. 07001257)
(formerly Duke, Cogema, Stone & Webster)
> See extra page