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NRC Issues License to LES for National Enrichment Facility

By Eric McErlain
Congratulations to Louisiana Energy Services on the news that was released late Friday that NRC had issued a license for the $1.5 billion National Enrichment Facility. From the Washington Post:
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued its first license for a major commercial nuclear facility in 30 years, allowing an international consortium to build what will be the nation's first private fuel source for commercial nuclear power plants.

Construction of the $1.5 billion National Enrichment Facility, under review for the past 2 1/2 years, could begin in August, and the plant could be ready to sell enriched uranium by early 2009, said James Ferland, president of the consortium of nuclear companies, Louisiana Energy Services.
Late Friday night, our senior vice president and chief nuclear officer, Marv Fertel, had this to say:
"The Nuclear Energy Institute congratulates LES on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's approval of its license application for a new uranium enrichment facility in the United States. Once built, LES's state-of-the-art facility will help ensure a competitive, reliable and stable supply of low-enriched uranium. This achievement will enhance our domestic supply of fuel to produce reliable, emission-free electricity from nuclear power plants for decades to come.

"With the nation's 103 operating nuclear power plants running at 90 percent capacity and the prospect of new nuclear power plant construction moving steadily closer to reality, this new enrichment facility will add to our energy security as it increases our domestic capability to produce nuclear fuel for electricity production by commercial nuclear power plants.

"The Nuclear Regulatory Commission also is to be commended for completing its detailed examination of the LES license application within the original, 30-month schedule. This disciplined licensing experience is a welcome confidence-builder that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission can effectively review safety and licensing issues in a timely manner. This experience bodes well for the construction and operating license applications for new nuclear power plants that are expected to be submitted to the agency beginning in 2007."
For more from NRC, click here and here. Norris McDonald and Nuke Beat are chiming in too.

UPDATE: More support from Kung Fu Quip.

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