| Licence Status: |
Decommissioning |
| Permanently Ceased Operation: |
March 2, 2016 |
| Centrifuges De-Inventoried: |
March 17, 2016 |
| Estimated Closure: |
TBD |
| Project Manager: |
Yawar Faraz |
Site Status Summary
The Lead Cascade was a test loop of the American Centrifuge Plant
(ACP) located in Piketon, OH. The Lead Cascade demonstrated the effectiveness of the
centrifuge design and equipment by processing uranium in a closed loop. After the demonstration was
completed, the facility made a financial decision to cease uranium enrichment operations in February
2016, followed by removal of uranium gas from the centrifuges and process piping, dismantling of
process equipment, and other actions needed to ultimately decommission the facility.
In March 2016, American Centrifuge Operating, LLC (ACO) notified the NRC of Centrus Energy Corp's decision
to cease operation at the Lead Cascade and to terminate the Lead Cascade's Materials license
(SNM-7003). In May, ACO submitted a proposed amendment to
the license to downgrade licensed activities at the Lead Cascade to "Limited Operations"
and to remove the regulatory permission to enrich. After conducting a site visit to verify the
company's claims, NRC issued an approval to the
license amendment in December 2016.
In January 2018, Centrus submitted a revised decommissioning plan for the Lead Cascade
facility. The final status survey report for the facility was submitted in April 2018 and
independent confirmatory surveys were conducted in May 2018. The staff approved the
decommissioning in August 2018. A request to terminate the Lead Cascade facility license was
submitted in August following approval of the DP and is currently under review by the staff.
Complex Materials Classification
The Lead Cascade facility is currently classified as a complex materials site because it has ceased
all operational activities and entered decommissioning status. However, project management
responsibility was retained by the NRC's Division of Fuel Cycle Safety, Safeguards, and
Environmental Review due to other Centrus licenses that remain active at the same location.
Major Technical or Regulatory Issues
No regulatory or technical issues are expected.