Areva Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility project (USA) - Current Issues 
(last updated 30 July 2009)
NRC Docket No. 07007015
NRC License No.
> View NRC's fuel facility licensing page 
NRC issues Notice of Hearing for Areva's License Application for Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility, Idaho
By September 28, 2009, any person whose interest may be affected by this proceeding and who wishes to participate as a party in the proceeding must file a written petition for leave to intervene.
> View Commission Order CLI-09-15, July 24, 2009
Federal Register: July 30, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 145) p. 38052-38062 (download full text )
Areva requests exemption for early site preparation works for Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility, Idaho
On June 17, 2009, Areva requested from NRC an exemption to allow for early site preparation activites at its Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility site prior to the NRC's completion of its environmental review and the NRC's issuance of a Materials License.
Revision 1 of Areva's License Application for Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility, Idaho, available for download
On May 4, 2009, NRC made Revision 1 of Areva's License Application for the Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility project available for download (ADAMS Acc. no. ML091210558 ). The revision contains the changes to address the expansion of the facility from 3.3 to 6.6 million SWU per year, among others.
NRC invites public comment on scope of EIS to be prepared for Areva's Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility, Idaho
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) evaluating Areva's proposed Eagle Rock Enrichment facility in Idaho Falls, ID. NRC invites public comments on the appropriate scope of issues to be considered in the EIS.
Comments should be submitted no later than June 19, 2009.
Federal Register: May 4, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 84) p. 20508-20509
(download full text )
Areva plans to double capacity of Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility
On March 31, 2009, AREVA Enrichment Services LLC (AES) notified the NRC of its intent to revise the License Application for the Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility by expanding the capacity of the facility from 3.3 million separative work units (SWU) per year to 6.6 million SWU per year.
Areva Enrichment Services (AES) has submitted a "roadmap" to US regulators defining changes it plans to make to its licence application in order to double the capacity of the Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility (EREF).
According to documents submitted to the NRC, the expansion would add four years to the planned construction time for the site, revising the date for full capacity production from 2018 in the initial application (for 3.3 million SWU per year) to 2022 for full production at 6.6 million SWU per year. The expansion would involve the construction of two more Separations Building Modules, referred to in the document as SBM 3 and 4. These would be identical to the two SBMs in the original application with each module having its own uranium hexafluoride handling area and two cascade halls. The expanded plant would contain a total of 96 cascades and be capable of producing 8 different tails assays at any one time.
(WNN April 22, 2009)
Areva files application for proposed U.S. uranium enrichment plant
An application has been made to build and operate the Eagle Rock uranium enrichment facility that Areva plans for Idaho, USA.
An Areva subsidiary submitted the application for a combined construction and operating licence to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on 30 December, 2008.
The company said it hoped to begin construction in 2011.
(World Nuclear News Dec. 31, 2008)
On March 18, 2009, NRC made the license application available for download (ADAMS Acc. No. ML090300658 ).
> See also: NRC web page
Areva selects Idaho site for proposed U.S. uranium enrichment plant
On May 6, 2008, AREVA Inc. announced that it has selected the state of Idaho for its new U.S. uranium enrichment facility. The site is located in Bonneville County, 18 miles west of Idaho Falls, close to the Idaho National Lab.
Areva Inc. is building its $2 billion uranium enrichment plant near Idaho Falls, Idaho, according to New Mexico state Rep. John Heaton. (Carlsbad Current-Argus May 5, 2008)
Areva delays site decision for proposed U.S. uranium enrichment plant
French nuclear company Areva has postponed its choice of a site for a US
centrifuge uranium enrichment plant until the first quarter of 2008, a company
spokeswoman said Dec. 19, 2007.
Earlier, Areva had announced it would choose a site by the end of 2007.
(Platts Dec. 20, 2007)
Areva discloses sites considered for proposed U.S. centrifuge enrichment plant
Under consideration are sites in Virginia (where Areva NP Inc. already operates a nuclear fuel facility at Lynchburg), New Mexico, Texas, South Carolina and Idaho, AREVA NC Inc. President Mike McMurphy said. "We're looking for places where the geology and seismic conditions are correct and public acceptance is good," he said.
(The News & Advance, July 4, 2007)
NRC discloses Areva's proposal to build centrifuge enrichment plant in USA
On June 21, 2007, NRC disclosed a meeting summary of a pre-application meeting held with Areva on May 21, 2007, on Areva's proposal to build a centrifuge enrichment plant with an initial capacity of 3 million SWU in the U.S.
Areva and Urenco joint venture Enrichment Technology Company, Limited (ETC) will supply the centrifuge technology. According to Areva, the Cardiff agreement provides for transferring technology to other countries. (The Cardiff agreement, signed in 2006, provides the framework for the transfer of Urenco's centrifuge technology to the ETC joint venture. It was concluded to allow for the construction of Areva's Georges Besse II enrichment plant based on Urenco centrifuge technology. It extends the Treaty of Almelo of 1970 which forms the basis for the Urenco consortium.)
The schedule proposed by Areva is to select a site by the end of 2007 (thereby trying to "Incorporate lessons learned from LES and other nuclear facility site selection activities"...), submit an application by mid-2008, have a license issued by mid-2010, start construction in late 2010 and begin operating in 2013. Full capacity is to be attained in 2017.
Regarding management of depleted uranium tails, Areva plans to either convert and dispose of tails by a private, commercial company, or have DOE dispose of the tails in accordance with Section 3113 of the USEC Privatization Act (Title III of Public Law 104-134 (1.2M PDF)).
> Download NRC Meeting Summary May 21, 2007 (ADAMS: ML071720019)
> Download Areva presentation May 21, 2007 (ADAMS: ML071650116)
> Download text of the Cardiff agreement:
Agreement between the governments of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the French Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany and the Kingdom of the Netherlands regarding collaboration in centrifuge technology: Cardiff, 12 July 2005 (UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office - 399k PDF)
> View details on the history of the Cardiff agreement