nuclear-news

Secrecy surrounding laser uranium enrichment technology, with its risks of nuclear weapons spread

Commercialization of the SILEX technology has sparked concerns of nuclear proliferation. Arms control advocates fear that commercialization could lead other countries to follow suit, raising concerns about the technology falling into the wrong hands.

Uranium enrichment plant meeting to be closed to public Star News, By Wayne Faulkner  July 10, 2012  The last major review before a revolutionary laser uranium enrichment plant could be built in Castle Hayne will take place behind closed doors.

The unusual step in closing the hearing Wednesday is because the discussions will include non-public information about GE Hitachi Global Laser Enrichment but also the sensitive technology that would be used at the plant, said David McIntyre, spokesman for the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission.

The hearing, before a panel of administrative judges at the NRC’s headquarters in Maryland, is being conducted by the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board, which then would make recommendations to the NRC for possible approval of a 40-year license to operate the plant….
The NRC on Feb. 29 approved the plant’s environmental-impact statement.

There will be no more public comment about the plant or technology, McIntyre said.

The facility on GE’s Castle Hayne campus near the intersection of Interstate 140 and Castle Hayne Road would be the nation’s first laser-based commercial uranium enrichment operation, using an Australian technology called SILEX, or Separation of Isotopes by Laser
Excitation.

GLE already operates a test loop here, but the company has said it has
not decided yet on whether to commercialize the technology.

Commercialization of the SILEX technology has sparked concerns of nuclear proliferation. Arms control advocates fear that commercialization could lead other countries to follow suit, raising concerns about the technology falling into the wrong hands.
There needs to be a nuclear profile assessment, said Tom Clements,
non-proliferation policy director for the Alliance for Nuclear
Accountability in Columbia, S.C.

Clements said the National Environmental Policy Act doesn’t require
examining proliferation issues.

“There’s a real regulatory void here that the NRC or some other agency
needs to step up and fill,” Clements said Tuesday.

He also filed a request with the NRC requesting that it reconsider its
decision to close the meeting.
….http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20120710/ARTICLES/120719985/1177?Title=Uranium-enrichment-plant-meeting-to-be-closed-to-public

July 11, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, USA