Safety Evaluation Report for the American Centrifuge Plant in Piketon, Ohio (NUREG-1851)

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Publication Information

Manuscript Completed: September 2006
Date Published: September 2006

Division of Fuel Cycle Safety and Safeguards
Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001

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Abstract

The report documents the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff review and safety and safeguards evaluation of USEC Inc.'s (USEC's) application for a license to construct a gas centrifuge uranium enrichment facility and possess and use special nuclear material (SNM), source material, and byproduct material. USEC proposes that the gas centrifuge uranium enrichment facility be located on the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) reservation in Piketon, Ohio. The facility will possess natural, depleted, and enriched uranium, and will be authorized to enrich uranium up to a maximum of 10 weight percent uranium-235.

The objective of this review is to evaluate the facility's potential adverse impacts on worker and public health and safety, under both normal operating and accident conditions. The review also considers physical protection of SNM and classified matter, material control and accounting of SNM, and the management organization, administrative programs, and financial qualifications provided to ensure safe design and operation of the facility.

NRC staff concludes, in this safety evaluation report, that the applicant's descriptions, specifications, and analyses provide an adequate basis for safety and safeguards of facility operations and that operation of the facility does not pose an undue risk to worker and public health and safety.

Potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed facility and its reasonable alternatives are addressed in a separate document, Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed American Centrifuge Plant in Piketon, Ohio, NUREG-1834, which was made available to the public in April 2006.