Power company Exelon plans to produce molybdenum-99 at its Byron Nuclear Generating Station in Illinois, potentially submitting a license amendment request to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in early 2017.
Mo-99 is an isotope that decays into technetium-99m, which is used in imaging procedures for cancer, heart disease, and bone and kidney disease. The Western Hemisphere no longer has a steady Mo-99 supplier, as Canada stopped producing the isotope at its National Research Universal reactor at Chalk River Laboratories this fall. The Canadian government has said the facility is, however, available for emergency supply through March 2018.
Unlike other companies seeking to produce the isotope, Exelon would not need to build a new facility, though it must apply for an amendment to the operating licenses for Byron Units 1 and 2. The company has scheduled a Dec. 5 pre-application meeting with the NRC to discuss the potential for moving forward.
“Production of Moly-99 at Byron Station is an exciting opportunity for Exelon Generation,” Exelon spokeswoman Kristen Otterness said by email Wednesday. “It would allow us to be involved in a process that ultimately helps doctors across the country diagnose and treat their patients.”
Otterness noted the Chalk River closure on Thursday, explaining that a new process is being developed that would enable established Westinghouse-style commercial reactors, like those at Byron, to aid in production of Mo-99. “Exelon Generation’s involvement in its production would help increase supplies and bring production closer to home,” she stated.
Otterness said the company would begin production as soon as NRC approved its application, for which there is no definitive timeline. She declined to disclose how much Mo-99 the company would produce, for proprietary reasons.
NRC spokesman David McIntyre said by email Wednesday said the agency is in listening mode, as it looks to learn more about Exelon’s plans.
Northwest Medical Isotopes, SHINE Medical Technologies, Coqui RadioPharmaceuticals Corp, and othes companies all plan to build new facilities to become the first American commercial producers of Mo-99 in more than 25 years. Northwest hopes to begin commercial operation in late 2018 at its $70 million facility at the Discovery Ridge research park in Columbia, Mo., while SHINE aims to begin production at a $100 million facility in Janesville, Wis., in 2019. Coqui intends to start production in late 2020 or early 2021 at its $400 million facility in Alachua, Fla.
NRC Issues Draft EIS for Missouri Isotope Facility
The NRC has issued a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for Northwest Medical Isotopes’ radioisotope production facility.
Northwest has submitted a construction application to the NRC to build its privately funded facility at the University of Missouri Research Reactor. The company intends to submit its operating license application in early 2017.
The EIS is required under the National Environmental Policy Act, and analyzes impacts on humans and the environment. The NRC has scheduled a public meeting to discuss the draft EIS at 6 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Holiday Inn East-Columbia, 915 Port Way, Columbia, Mo. The NRC staff’s recommendation to issue the construction permit was based on feedback it gathered from Northwest’s environmental report; NRC staff consultation with federal, state, local, and tribal agencies; the NRC’s independent environmental review; and public comments. Northwest expects an agency decision on the construction permit in late summer 2017.
Before Northwest can operate the facility, it must apply for an operating license and a license to receive and possess special nuclear material for its production processes. It also must “substantially” complete construction in accordance with an NRC-issued permit, and obtain an operating license from the regulator. If Northwest were to submit an application for an operating license, NRC staff would prepare a an EIS supplement. The NRC has concluded that environmental impacts from construction, operations, and decommissioning would all be small to moderate.