The public has until Dec. 1 to request a hearing before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board on a license amendment authorizing Tri-structural Isotope (TRISO) fuel fabrication at Framatome’s plant in Richland, Wash.
Among other things, the Framatome Fuel Fabrication Facility in Richland produces uranium dioxide (UO2) powder, pellets, fuel rods and fuel assemblies, according to the plant’s website.
Anybody whose interest might be affected by the license amendment can file a request for a hearing and petition for leave to intervene. The action must be completed within 60 days of the recent Oct. 2 Federal Register notice.
“If a petition is filed, the presiding officer will rule on the petition and, if appropriate, a notice of a hearing will be issued,” according to NRC’s Federal Register notice. The ASLB, a three-judge panel, oversees the hearings and disputes pertaining to license applications.
NRC received Framatome’s application in a September 2024 letter. Framatome seeks to amend its materials license special nuclear material (SNM)-1227 at its fuel fabrication facility.
According to the notice, Framatome’s facility is authorized to use and store SNM, but the license amendment is seeking authorization to fabricate TRISO fuel at its Special Fuels Building..
On July 7, NRC accepted Framatome’s license amendment application and environmental report for technical review. The agency intends to complete the review by March 2026.
Framatome recently announced it has formed a TRISO nuclear fuel production joint venture with Standard Nuclear.
Framatome is an international nuclear energy engineering and service provider. The company has many locations globally and multiple in the United States, with Lynchburg, Va. being its U.S. headquarters.