Current Issues: Waste Management of Depleted Uranium
(last updated 25 Jun 2009)
Contents:
> see also:
Regulators' views are not exactly conclusive regarding this question:
- On Jan. 18, 2005, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission decided that depleted uranium is a low level waste - and the DU therefore may be transfered to DOE for disposition, as requested by the license applicant.
(view details)
- On Sept. 26, 2001, the Texas Department of Health approved the disposal of DU counterweights at a land burial facility not even licensed for disposal of radioactive waste, as requested by the license applicant.
(view details)
- On Nov. 5, 1998, a French appeals court, revoking a lower tribunal's decision, ruled that depleted uranium is no waste, but a "directly usable raw material that is effectively used for multiple uses" - and the DU therefore may be stored indefinitely in the form of U3O8 in purpose-built storage buildings, as requested by the license applicant.
(view details)
- On Oct. 22, 1997, the German government stated that re-enrichment of Urenco's tails in Russia is not connected to a management of residues violating international rules, standards, or obligations, though the secondary tails remain in Russia and their avoided disposal cost appears to be Urenco's main purpose for the re-enrichment deal.
(view details)
> See extra page
See also: Uranium Enrichment Tails Upgrading
DOE presents re-enrichment options for its higher assay depleted uranium tails
"DOE will consider the sale of DUF6 or re-enrichment to natural uranium or LEU to realize the best value for the Government. The DOE inventory of 75,300 MTU of DU having an assay from 0.35 percent 235U to 0.711 percent 235U is currently scheduled for conversion to a more stable form, followed by its re-use or disposal. However, as the price of NU has increased the value of the relatively higher assay DU makes it potentially attractive for reenrichment.
Enriched to 0.711 percent 235U, the DU could produce about 25,950 MTU of NU as UF6. DOE has estimated that the gross value of this uranium would be approximately $5.6 billion based on the April 2008 market price for uranium. The net value is estimated to be about $3.4 billion after re-enrichment, depending on the actual SWU price. 1" (Excess Uranium Inventory Management Plan, Dec. 16, 2008)
1 Uranium Exchange (Ux) Corporation's month end spot price of $78.00 per pound of U3O8, conversion price of $9.00 kgU, NU UF6 price of $215 kgU and SWU price of $143.
For the NU contained, DOE assumes an average DU assay of 0.366% 235U and a secondary tails assay of 0.20% 235U.
NU = Natural Uranium, MTU = Metric tons of uranium
> See also: DOE issues Excess Uranium Inventory Management Plan
> See also: Depleted Uranium Value Calculator
GAO urges DOE to hurry up with assessment of re-enrichment options for its depleted uranium tails
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report urging the Department of Energy (DOE) to complete an analysis of the management options for its stocks of depleted uranium tails. GAO wants the DOE to consider the options for re-enrichment and/or sale of the unprocessed tails, to take advantage of the currently high market price for uranium.
Since DOE's legal authority to sell the unprocessed tails is doubtful, GAO moreover asks Congress to grant such legal authority.
Nuclear Material: DOE Has Several Potential Options for Dealing with Depleted Uranium Tails, Each of Which Could Benefit the Government, U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-08-606R, March 31, 2008
> Download full report 
(213k PDF)
On April 3, 2008, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing titled: Selling the Department of Energy's Depleted Uranium Stockpile: Opportunities and Challenges
Life extension of Paducah enrichment plant by re-enrichment of depleted uranium?
> View here
DOE has agreed to transfer up to 8.5-million kilograms of depleted uranium to
the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) for re-enrichment by USEC Inc. and use in Energy Northwest's (EN) Columbia BWR over the period 2009 to 2017. DOE
has some 700,000 metric tons of depleted uranium but only a small percentage
are at assays above 0.4% U-235 and therefore clearly economical in today's
market to re-enrich, according to a source familiar with what he described as
this "pilot" program. He said that if all 8.5-million kg were re-enriched, it
might generate about 1.9-million kg of natural UF6, and could save EN millions
of dollars in fuel costs if today's UF6 prices remain at current market levels
(about $87.25/kgU as UF6). But the actual feasibility of recycling DOE's
depleted UF6 for use in a commercial reactor has not been tested, he said,
given questions over how much of the depleted uranium is contaminated with
unwanted radioactive isotopes. This pilot project will provide DOE with the
information to support a decision regarding any subsequent action to reuse any
of the remaining DUF6 inventory, he said.
(Platts 6 July 2005)
> See also: Re-enrichment of depleted uranium tails in Gaseous Diffusion Plants (300k PDF)
> See also: Compostion of the U.S. DOE Depleted Uranium Inventory (70k PDF)
> See also: Fact Sheet: Hazards from depleted uranium produced from reprocessed uranium (290k PDF)
Rosatom confirms termination of re-enrichment of imported depleted uranium tails in 2011
Rosatom confirmed that the re-enrichment of foreign depleted uranium tails will be terminated in 2011. The current contracts expire in 2009 and 2010, and they won't be renewed, nor will any new contracts be concluded, a Rosatom expert confirmed.
(RIA Novosti March 19, 2009)
Russia to terminate re-enrichment of imported depleted uranium tails, once current contracts expire
Over a year ago, Rosatom, the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency, decided not to sign new contracts for imports of depleted uranium from Europe for enrichment and plans only to implement contracts signed in the 1990s, Atomic Energy Agency Director Sergei Kirienko told journalists in Angarsk.
"We decided over a year ago that we would not sign new contracts or
extend old ones, but we cannot tear up agreements that we already have -
they expire in 2009-2010," he said.
"We consider it incorrect to import hexafluoride until the issue of its potential chemical danger is resolved," Kirienko said.
Kirienko said that contracts to import depleted uranium from Europe were signed in the 1990s "at a good price."
(Interfax June 22, 2007)
Protest in Irkutsk against import of depleted uranium tails from Western Europe to Russia
> See here
Protest in Moscow against import of depleted uranium tails from Germany to Russia
On Oct. 12, 2006, environmentalists staged a brief protest in front of Germany's embassy in Moscow against long-standing shipments of German nuclear waste to Russia.
Brandishing a banner scrawled with "Stop the entry of nuclear waste", a dozen Germans and Russians demonstrated for about 10 minutes before the
Russian protesters were seized, handcuffed and hauled away by police.
"German authorities must stop burying radioactive waste in Russia which
threatens the health of future generations of Russians," Vladimir Sliviak of
the Russian environmental group Ecodefense, said in a statement.
"German authorities must not take advantage of the fact that the Russian atomic industry can violate laws and ignore public opinion," he added.
According the Ecodefense, some 100,000 tons of nuclear waste have been imported
to Russia over the past decade. Up to 90 percent of the waste is stored by
Russian companies, awaiting final disposal, the group said.
The radioactive material arrives in Saint Petersburg's port in the northern part
of the country, Ecodefense said, where it is carried by train toward the Ural
mountains, and western and eastern Siberia.
(Ecodefense Oct. 12, 2006)
Protests in Tomsk against import of depleted uranium tails from Western Europe to Russia
On August 1, 2006, activists from ten Russian cities protested in Tomsk against the import of depleted uranium tails from Western Europe for re-enrichment in Russia. They were participants of an anti-nuclear camp held by the organisation Ecodefense from July 26 to August 3, 2006.
(Ecodefense July 26 and Aug. 1, 2006)
Russia could expand re-enrichment of foreign depleted uranium tails
Russia could increase its share of the global market for the treatment of depleted uranium to 45% by 2010, from 40% at present, Vladimir Korotkevich, director of the state-owned Siberian Chemical Combine at Tomsk, told reporters. He also said that Techsnabexport, the Russian government's authorized exporter of nuclear materials and nuclear power plant fuel, had contracts worth more than $3 billion annually to process depleted uranium hexafluoride from abroad. This does not include contracts signed under the Megatons to Megawatts deal with the United States.
(Interfax Dec. 28, 2005)
Ecodefense calls for end of import of depleted uranium tails from Western Europe to Russia, releases detailed report on re-enrichment business
On August 2, 2005, Ecodefense Russia held a press conference in Moscow demanding an end to the imports of depleted uranium tails to Russia for re-enrichment. Since the secondary tails remain in Russia, the import would represent an illegal import of radioactive waste.
> View Ecodefense release Aug. 2, 2005 (in Russian)
> View Bellona article Aug. 4, 2005
At the occasion of this press conference, Ecodefense released a detailed report on this issue titled "Re-enrichment of West European Depleted Uranium Tails in Russia".
> View abstract and download report.
On August 6, 2005, Ecodefense opened the 6th Antinuclear Camp near the Urals Electrochemical integrated plant, where part of the re-enrichment takes place. The camp will be open for one week.
On August 11, 2005, a protest action with 40 participants was held at Ekaterinburg against the tails import from West European countries to Russia. One activist was detained.
> View Ecodefense release Aug. 11, 2005 (in Russian, with photos)
Protest in St Petersburg against arrival of depleted uranium shipment from France
On Dec. 11, 2008, ecologists from the local branch of Bellona, an international environmental pressure group Bellona protested outside the French Consulate General in St. Petersburg as cargo containing toxic uranium derivatives arrived in the city's port.
The hazardous cargo arrived in St. Petersburg on board the Zamoskvorechiye, a ship belonging to French company Eurodif which is carrying containers holding a total of 2,000 tons of depleted uranium hexafluoride from the Tricastin Nuclear Power Center in Pierrelatte, France. The ship left the French port of Havre on Dec. 4.
For about two hours, six protestors picketed the French consulate one at a time to avoid laws against unplanned free association of people in public places.
(St. Petersburg Times Dec. 12, 2008)
Bellona stages protest against arrival of depleted uranium shipment from France at St Petersburg port (Russia)
Amid demands by environmentalists that French nuclear waste deliveries to Russia via St. Petersburg cease, the French vessel Captain Lus put in to port in this city at 6:00 p.m. local time laden with depleted uranium hexafluoride, known as uranium tailings.
In protest of the ship's arrival, Bellona stages a series of rotating one-person protests in front of the French consulate on the Moika Embankment in St. Petersburg.
(Bellona May 30, 2008)
Greenpeace tries to block entry of depleted uranium shipment from France into St Petersburg port (Russia)
On Dec. 7, 2005, Greenpeace Russia tried to block the entry of the container ship "Kapitan Kuroptev" into the port of St Petersburg. The ship carried 450 t of depleted uranium waste from France, being sent to Russia for re-enrichment. Three boats with 11 activists on board tried to stand in the ship's way, burning signal lights and putting buoys warning of a floating radiation hazard. However, the ship picked up speed and used water cannons, and the activists had to retreat. (RIA Novosti Dec. 7, 2005)
> Download: International trade in wastes of the nuclear industry based on the example of depleted uranium hexafluoride , Greenpeace report, Dec. 6, 2005, (in Russian)
Greenpeace blocks depleted uranium export to Russia at Le Havre (France)
On Dec. 1, 2005, Greenpeace France blocked a transport of 450 t of uranium wastes at Le Havre. The material was to be exported to Russia. It consisted mainly of depleted uranium, to be re-enriched in Russia, and possibly some reprocessed uranium (RepU), to be swapped to natural uranium. It had arrived by train from the enrichment plant at Pierrelatte, and was to be loaded on the container ship "Kapitan Kuroptev" for sea transport to St Petersburg. (Greenpeace France, Dec. 1, 2005)
> Download: Europe's radioactive secret - how EDF and European nuclear utilities are dumping nuclear waste in the Russian Federation , Greenpeace International Briefing paper, November 18th 2005 (in English)
> Download: Note d’information: Comment eDF et les opérateurs électriques européens exportent leurs déchets nucléaires en Russie , Greenpeace, Novembre 2005 (in French)
Vladimir Korotkevich, director of the state-owned Siberian Chemical Combine at Tomsk, where some of the re-enrichment takes place, alleges this blockade was initiated and paid for by competitors of the Russian enrichment facilities(!) (Interfax Dec. 28, 2005). This allegation shows, what serious blow the dragging of the re-enrichment business into the limelight presents to the Russian enrichers...
Cogéma sends "a very small percentage" of the enrichment tails of its Eurodif plant to Russia for re-enrichment. (Nuclear Fuel Dec. 28, 1998)
Cogema ships about 7,000 MTU [metric tonnes U] of tails (at an assay
of about 0.35%) to Russia each year, according to an RWE
Nukem analysis. In addition to 1,100 MTU of natural
uranium, Cogema also receives back about 130 MT of low-enriched
uranium at an assay of about 3.5% U-235. (Nuclear Fuel May 12, 2003)
> For details on this issue, view the report "Re-enrichment of West European Depleted Uranium Tails in Russia".
"Minatom/Tenex has an estimated 9-million SWU/year of enrichment production capacity in excess of Russia's needs. If Russia uses the 9-million
SWU to strip tails from Urenco and other Western enrichers with 0.30%
uranium-235 to 0.20% U-235, it would produce 29 million lb of uranium
oxide (U3O8) (11,180 tonnes U) per year. It is likely, according to George
White, a consultant with Uranium Exchange Co., the Russians have contracted
with Urenco to strip tails from 0.3% to 0.25% U-235. But then the Russians
probably stripped the tails further, to 0.12 U-235, to produce uranium
for their own account and selling it, White suggested. Stripping of
uranium tails in this way would reduce the need for natural uranium
by about 30%." (WISE NEWS COMMUNIQUE 502, November 13, 1998)
If Russia used its excess 9 million SWU/year to strip Urenco's tails in the described way from 0.3% to 0.12% U-235, 7290 tonnes/year of uranium of natural isotope composition would be recovered, 4680 tonnes of which on Russia's own account.
> See also: Uranium Enrichment Tails Upgrading · Uranium Enrichment Tails Upgrading Calculator
From a press release of Edlow of June 16, 1998:
" Using a chartered ocean vessel, Edlow International Company delivered
140 cylinders of depleted uranium to Russia on May 29, 1998. Shipped in
48 inch cylinders, the shipment consisted of 461,871 kilograms uranium
hexafluoride (UF6). Originating in South Africa, the shipment is
significant as it represents half of South Africa's depleted UF6
inventory. The remainder of the country's depleted UF6 will be shipped
to Russia at a later date.
This shipment was performed by Edlow International under contract to
Edlow Resources Ltd. (an Edlow family company) in connection with Edlow
Resource's purchase of 2,000 tonnes of depleted UF6 from the Atomic
Energy Corporation of South Africa (AEC). The AEC has no remaining use
for the material, as it closed its enrichment facility - the Z plant -
in March 1995.
The depleted UF6 will be re-enriched in Russia and the resulting
enriched product will be sold to electricity utilities for use in
commercial nuclear power generation. As such, the transaction represents
a positive use of what is often regarded as a waste product."
> See also: Uranium Enrichment Tails Upgrading
The centrifuge enrichment plant of
Minatom's Ural Electrochemical Integrated Plant (UEChK, formerly Sverdlovsk-44) at Novouralsk near Ekaterinburg is now
enriching tails for Urenco. The tails
are enriched to a natural uranium equivalent level of 0.71% U-
235. In 1996, more than 6000 metric tonnes of tails were upgraded.
[Nuclear Fuel, October 6, 1997]
In 1998, 2,228 metric tonnes of tails were exported to Russia from Urenco's Gronau (Germany) plant alone [Nuclear Fuel, Feb. 21, 2000].
According to Euratom Supply Agency's Annual Report 1998 (p.10),
"Re-enrichment of western origin tails in Russia [...] provides a supply in the order of 1 000 to 2 000 tU (natural uranium equivalent) per year."
If Scenario 1 is assumed for the mass balance, this means that 13,600 to 27,200 t depleted UF6 would be shipped to Russia per year - two to four times the amount reported for 1996. As a by-product from the re-enrichment of this amount of material, 12,100 to 24,200 t of secondary tails would be produced per year.
For the production of the above amount of depleted UF6, Urenco would have to expend a separative work of 5.9 to 11.8 million SWU - much more than its present capacity of 3.4 million SWU. It can, therefore, be concluded that Urenco is currently in the process of drawing down its depleted UF6 inventory at high pressure.
According to Euratom Supply Agency's Annual Report 1999 (p.10), "In 1999, deliveries of re-enriched tails to EU utilities represented some 800 tU."
According to Euratom Supply Agency's Annual Report 2000 (p.9), "Re-enrichment in Russia for EU enrichers of western origin tails continued in 2000. Deliveries of re-enriched tails to EU utilities represented some 400 tU under purchasing contracts plus 700 tU acquired through exchanges. The Agency concluded 4 new supply contracts for the delivery of about 600 tU as re-enriched tails over the period 2001-2005."
According to Euratom Supply Agency's Annual Report 2001 (p.17), "some 1050 [tU] were delivered to EU utilities following the re-enrichment in Russia of tails on behalf of European enrichers", and "3 new supply contracts for the delivery of 760 tU as re-enriched tails in 2002-2004 have been concluded".
"A report presented earlier this year [2003] at a World Nuclear Association working group meeting by an RWE Nukem analyst, suggested that Urenco ships about 7,000 metric tons (MT) U of tails (average assay 0.30% U-235) to Russia for re-enrichment every year and receives back about 1,100 MTU of natural uranium." (Nuclear Fuel May 12, 2003)
German exports of depleted uranium (kg U as UF6) to Russia for re-enrichment:
| Year | Destination | Total |
|---|
| Novouralsk | Seversk | Angarsk |
|---|
| 1991 - 1995 | No exports |
| 1996 | | 502,395 |
| 1997 | | 2,404,585 |
| 1998 | 1,893,100 | 201,069 | 133,956 | 2,228,125 |
| 1999 | 1,574,520 | 569,312 | 284,777 | 2,428,608 |
| 2000 | 1,305,896 | 200,740 | 251,273 | 1,757,909 |
| 2001, 1st Q. | | 284,569 | 133,863 | 418,433 |
[Source: Bundestags-Drucksachen 14/5638 (March 23, 2001) (PDF), 14/6692 (July 16, 2001) (PDF)]
> See also Uranium Enrichment Tails Upgrading Calculator
According to the answer of the German government (BT-Drs.
13/8810 ) to a parliamentary question of the Greens, the new
tails produced during this upgrading process remain in
Russia.
Since the upgrading process results only in a minor reduction of
the amount of tails, Urenco's main purpose of the deal seems to
be to get rid of its waste management problem.
The Federal Government, however, stresses the results of an
investigation it has conducted together with the governments of
the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. The study has approved
that the re-enrichment in Russia is not connected to a
management of residues violating international rules, standards,
or obligations.
But, this view must be questioned, since the tails upgrading
does not make an economic sense, if the recovery of the uranium
were its only purpose: under current market conditions, the
recovered uranium would be 68% more expensive than fresh
uranium, and Urenco would incur a loss of $1700 per t UF6 sent to Minatom. *)
The re-enrichment does, however, make sense, if the avoided
disposal cost for the tails in the proposed Gorleben HLW deposit
are taken into consideration (the German LLW deposits don't
allow for storage of such amounts of uranium). The excess
upgrading cost over the market value of the uranium recovered
would be about 10% only of the storage cost at Gorleben, and Urenco would make a profit of $17300 per t UF6 sent to Minatom. *)
*) These figures are calculated on current market prices,
a product assay of 3.6% (PWR grade) and a tails assay of 0.3% at
Urenco [IAEA 1996 Red Book], and an assumed tails assay of 0.25%
at Minatom. The upgrading process would reduce the amount of
tails by 10% only under these conditions. The storage cost for a
200-liter barrel at the Gorleben HLW deposit is estimated at
15,000 DM; the volume needed for disposal of the tails as UO2
after cementation in barrels is estimated at 550 litre/t
UO2.
> For details on this issue, view the report "Re-enrichment of West European Depleted Uranium Tails in Russia".
> See also:
- USA general
- International Isotopes Inc. Fluorine Extraction Process (FEP) production plant project, Lea County, New Mexico, USA
- International Isotopes Inc. Fluorine Extraction Process (FEP) project, Idaho Falls, Idaho, USA
- U.S. DOE Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride Conversion Facilities project (extra page)
- Capenhurst tails de-conversion plant project, United Kingdom
- Usine W, Pierrelatte, Drôme, France
- Tails de-conversion plant project W-ЭХЗ, Zelenogorsk, Russia
- Tails de-conversion plant project KEDR, Angarsk, Russia
U.S. NRC to regulate only certain new uranium conversion and depleted uranium deconversion facilities
> View here
NRC License No.
NRC Docket No. 04009086
International Isotopes Inc.
International Isotopes Inc. announces selection of site in Lea County, New Mexico, for the planned depleted uranium deconversion facility
On March 31, 2009, International Isotopes Inc. announced its selection of a site in Lea County, New Mexico, for the construction of International Isotopes' depleted uranium de-conversion and fluorine extraction processing facility. The site location is approximately 15 miles west of Hobbs, NM.
International Isotopes Inc. announces plans to build commercial depleted uranium deconversion facility
On June 4, 2008, International Isotopes Inc. (INIS) announced plans to construct a commercial facility to process depleted uranium hexafluoride (UF6) tails from commercial uranium enrichment operations.
The facility will use INIS's patented Fluorine Extraction Process (FEP)
technology to convert the tails into readily disposable forms and in the
process produce high-value specialty fluoride gases for use in the
fabrication of microelectronics and in other applications.
On March 27, 2008, INIS notified NRC of its intent to submit an application for a FEP pilot plant (less then 10,000 kg of DUF4) by Nov. 1, 2008, and an application for a hybrid FEP and UF6-UF4 deconversion plant (28 million pounds of DUF6 annually) by May 1, 2009.
NRC License No.
NRC Docket No. 04009058
International Isotopes Inc.
International Isotopes Inc. announces the successful start of high purity germanium tetrafluoride production from depleted UF4
On Nov. 20, 2006, International Isotopes Inc. announced the successful
start of germanium tetrafluoride production using the Fluorine Extraction
Process (FEP). The Company had previously announced completion of the plant
construction and initial operational testing in January 2006. Since that
time the Company had been testing production systems, developing laboratory
analysis protocol, and implementing necessary system design alterations.
(International Isotopes Inc. Nov. 20, 2006)
On Jan. 25, 2006, International Isotopes Inc. announced the successful start of high purity germanium tetrafluoride gas production operations at their newly completed production facility in Idaho Falls, Idaho using the Fluorine Extraction Process (FEP).
FEP is a patented process that allows fluorine to be extracted from depleted uranium tetrafluoride (UF4) and react with metal oxides to form ultra high purity fluoride gases such as GeF4, BF3, SiF4, to name a few. These gases are ideally suited to specialty applications in the semiconductor industry where ultra high purity gases are required.
(International Isotopes Inc. Jan. 25, 2006)
U.S. NRC issues operating license for International Isotopes Inc. Fluorine Extraction Process (FEP) production plant project, Idaho, USA
On Oct. 31, 2005, International Isotopes Inc. announced they have received their
operating license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for the company's Fluorine Extraction Process (FEP).
The company acquired the exclusive patent technology for production of ultra pure inorganic fluoride gases in January 2004. Since then, the company has designed and constructed a state-of-the-art high-purity gas production facility. The plant, located in the St. Leon Business Park north of Idaho Falls, Idaho, is now nearly complete.
The NRC operating license is required before the Company may store and process sufficient quantities of depleted uranium tetrafluoride (UF4) to support commercial scale fluoride gas production and is the last license or permit required before the company can begin commercial fluoride gas production.
(Intl. Isotopes Oct. 31, 2005)
International Isotopes Inc. applies for operating license for Fluorine Extraction Process (FEP) production plant project, Idaho, USA
On April 21, 2005, International Isotopes Inc. submitted an application to possess and utilize depleted uranium (DU), solid form as uranium tetrafluoride (UF4) or uranium oxide (UO2 or U3O8). The company requests to receive and to store up to 5000 kilograms of DU per year with an additional 1000 kilograms of DU in process equipment. The proposed licensed activity will be to produce high purity fluorine gas compounds, such as germanium tetrafluoride (GeF4) or boron trifluoride (BF3). This robust chemical reaction converts UF4 into U3O8/UO2 during the fluorine gas production process.
> See extra page
Urenco has filed a license application for the construction of a tails deconversion plant (UF6 to U3O8) at its Capenhurst site. (Urenco Annual Report 2005)
A Memorandum of Agreement has been signed with Cogéma to supply Urenco with a tails deconversion plant which is a copy of their plant Usine W that has operated since the 1980's. It is intended to sign the full contract by the end of the year 2005 with construction commencing in 2007.
(Minutes of the Urenco (Capenhurst) Ltd Local Liaison Committee, 30 Nov. 2005)
Urenco plans to construct a Tails Hex Deconversion Facility, Hex Cylinder Wash Plant and Tails Oxide Store. Construction work is scheduled to start in 2007 with active operations commencing in 2011.
(Minutes of the Urenco (Capenhurst) Ltd Local Liaison Committee, 30 June 2005)
INB No. 155
Information about Usine W (Nuclear Safety Authority - ASN, in French)
Hydrofluoric acid enters Tricastin site cooling water system
On Sep. 13, 2007, a significant amount of hydrofluoric acid entered the cooling water circuit at the deconversion plant for depleted uranium "Usine W". The cooling water system is serving the whole Tricastin site. Due to the cooling water becoming corrosive, several small leakages of the cooling water system were observed. After assuring the security of the plant and the employees, the cooling water system was emptied. The acidic water recovered was treated and released, leading to an exceedance of permitted short term release limits. Preliminary assessments suggest that the environmental impact of the event was not significant.
(ASN Oct. 5, 2007)
Russia's first depleted uranium hexafluoride deconversion plant to start operation in spring 2009
Electrochemical Plant (ECP) at Zelenogorsk (Krasnoyarskiy Kray, 100% subsidiary of Atomenergoprom ) is completing startup and adjusting works at the new plant for the processing of depleted uranium hexafluoride.
The installation "W-ЭХЗ" (W-[EKhz]), based on the French technology of industrial scale deconversion is being constructed at the electrochemical plant.
The design capacity of the plant is 10,000 tonnes of depleted uranium hexafluoride per year.
Commissioning of the plant is planned at the end of the second quarter of 2009.
(Atomenergoprom Feb. 4, 2009)
Russia plans to install two depleted uranium hexafluoride de-conversion plants
The Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom) is implementing a number of projects to set up units that will process hexafluoride into chemically less dangerous compounds. In particular, at the Angarsk combine it is planned to install a Cedar unit by 2010-2011, which will use Russian processing technology, and a unit using French technology, which Rosatom acquired and plans to actively use, will be installed at another Rosatom enrichment company by 2009.
(Interfax June 22, 2007)
Areva signs technology transfer agreement with Tenex for depleted uranium hexafluoride de-conversion
AREVA and the Russian company TENEX signed a technology transfer agreement worth 50 million Euro for the construction of a uranium defluorination plant in Siberia.
This transfer includes the design of the installation, equipment supply, supervision of erection and testing and training in operation and maintenance.
AREVA will follow the contract to the end in 2009.
AREVA currently owns the only such plant in the world. Situated on the Pierrelatte site in the Drôme region of France, it has been transforming depleted uranium hexafluoride into U3O8, since 1984.
(Areva May 2, 2005)
Pilot plant for de-conversion of depleted UF6 to be commissioned in Angarsk in 2012
Under the name of KEDR (cedar), Russia is developing a technology for the de-conversion of UF6 to UF4. A pilot plant is planned at the Angarsk Electrolysis Chemical Complex in the Irkutsk region. The hydrous hydrogen fluoride (HF) generated in the process will be completely recycled at the conversion plant of the Angarsk complex.
It is planned to deploy the pilot demonstration installation with the annual capacity of 2,000 tons of UF6 per year by 2012. After that, another installation of industrial scale with the capacity of 4,000 tons per year will be added to the pilot installation and the overall capacity will be increased to 6,000 tons.
(Mikhail Aboimov at the 33rd World Nuclear Association Annual Symposium 2008)
Russia plans to install two depleted uranium hexafluoride de-conversion plants
The Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency (Rosatom) is implementing a number of projects to set up units that will process hexafluoride into chemically less dangerous compounds. In particular, at the Angarsk combine it is planned to install a Cedar unit by 2010-2011, which will use Russian processing technology, and a unit using French technology, which Rosatom acquired and plans to actively use, will be installed at another Rosatom enrichment company by 2009.
(Interfax June 22, 2007)
> See also: British Nuclear Group Sellafield Limited Capenhurst site
Nuclear Installations Inspectorate presses British Nuclear Group to deal with hazard from uranium hexafluoride tails stored at Capenhurst
"[...] NII continues to actively press the licensee to develop the options to bring forward the date for the commencement of processing or disposing of the legacy 'Hex Tails' uranic and other materials currently stored on site, taking account of wider developments. The licensee continues to provide the site inspector with visibility of the ongoing work to review acceleration options. NII was encouraged that the licensee was now actively engaged in reviewing the options to address the 'Hex Tails' legacy, with a view to reducing the potential hazard from this legacy material, earlier than currently programmed in the Lifetime Plan. Some interim acceleration milestones were incorporated within the 2007/08 Lifetime Plan. NII will continue to press for progress to be made by the licensee towards the timely reduction of this medium term site hazard."
(British Nuclear Group Sellafield Limited Capenhurst Works, NII site inspector's quarterly report to the local stakeholder group for 1 January 2007 to 31 March 2007)
"[...] NII continues to actively press the licensee to develop the options to bring forward the date for the commencement of processing the legacy 'Hex Tails' uranic materials currently stored on site, taking account of wider developments. The licensee has agreed to present the outcome of the current review of acceleration options to NII and EA before the end of 2006. NII was encouraged that the licensee was now actively engaged in reviewing options to address the 'Hex Tails' legacy, with a view to reducing the potential hazard from this legacy material, earlier than currently programmed. NII will continue to press for progress to be made in the timely reduction of this medium term site hazard." (British Nuclear Group Sellafield Limited Capenhurst Works, NII Site Inspector's Quarterly Report to the Local Stakeholder Group for 1 July 2006 to 30 September 2006)
BNFL installs windows at DU storage facility to enhance transparency...
"2.3 Long Term Storage of Uranium at Capenhurst
Progress continues to be made in the construction of stores in the ex Diffusion Plant Building. These stores are being provided with windows so that the stores and their contents can be viewed by the public."
(BRITISH NUCLEAR FUELS PLC, CAPENHURST WORKS, QUARTERLY REPORT FOR 1 APRIL 2001 TO 30 JUNE 2001)
COVRA opens new uranium oxide storage halls for depleted uranium from Urenco's Almelo enrichment plant
"On the 2 July 2008, COVRA (the national storage facility for radioactive
materials in the Netherlands) opened two additional storage halls for storing
Urenco's depleted uranium at its facility in Vlissingen in the Netherlands.
Since the COVRA opened the depleted uranium building in 2004, its first
hall is now almost at full capacity. With the opening of these new halls,
availability of safe, long-term, retrievable storage of depleted uranium will
be ensured for years to come.
As part of Urenco's commitment to safety, it uses COVRA's facilities to store
depleted uranium from the enrichment process. Depleted UF6 is sent to
a facility in France, where it is converted to U3O8, a more stable form of
uranium and therefore suitable for long term storage. COVRA takes over this
material from Urenco, which is then shipped to Vlissingen in steel containers
each of which holds 10 metric tonnes of U3O8.
Each hall holds a maximum of 650 containers, which will provide safe,
reliable storage of the oxide for a further 100 to 150 years. Many years in
the future, a decision will be made by COVRA as to whether the material
can be reused or needs to be put into final storage."
(Urenco News Magazine Autumn 2008)
Dutch Ministry discloses details on Urenco Almelo's depleted uranium disposition at COVRA
On Nov. 27, 2007, the Dutch Ministry of Environment (VROM), in an answer to a parliamentary question, disclosed that approximately an annual amount of 3700 t, that is almost half of the depleted uranium generated at Urenco's Almelo enrichment plant, is sent to the Centrale Organisatie Voor Radioactief Afval (COVRA) radioactive waste facility, where it is stored.
> Download Beantwoording Kamervragen lid Poppe 2070802570 over transport van kernafval (MS Word, in Dutch)
Together with the application to increase the enrichment capacity of its Gronau, Germany, enrichment plant to 4000 tonnes SWU/year (details here), Urenco has filed an application for the construction of two storage buildings for its depleted uranium waste. The depleted uranium is currently being stored as uranium hexafluoride in cylinder yards next to the plant with a licensed capacity of 38,000 tonnes of UF6. For storage, the depleted uranium is to be converted to the more stable form of U3O8 at the Pierrelatte facility in France. The buildings are to be designed for a capacity of 50,000 tonnes of uranium oxide. (Gronauer Nachrichten, April 30, 1999; Westfälische Nachrichten July 31, 1999)
On October 14, 2004, traces from an impact and a hole were detected in a container carrying depleted uranium in the form of U3O8 from Cogéma's conversion facility Usine W in Pierrelatte to the DU storage site in Bessines (Haute Vienne). The 28 mm-long fissure was detected on top of the container on arrival of the rail shipment in Bessines. It is assumed that the fissure occured during handling of the container at Pierrelatte. No traces of any release of radioactive material were detected.
> View ASN release Nov. 8, 2004 (in French)
The long history of disposal of any kinds of wastes on former
uranium mine and mill sites is being enriched by a new project:
France's nuclear fuel company COGEMA
is going to store 199,900 tonnes of depleted uranium (DU) at the
site of the former uranium mill of Bessines-sur-Gartempe (Haute
Vienne) near Limoges. The project was licensed on 20 December
1995.
This license was revoked by the Administrative Tribunal of Limoges on July 9, 1998. The license was revoked mainly for the reason that the DU has to be regarded as a waste under current conditions, though an extraction of the residual uranium-235 might be viable in the future.
On Nov. 5, 1998, a Bordeaux appeals court ruled that the material is no waste, but a "directly usable raw material that is effectively used for multiple uses". Following this court decision, COGEMA sent the first DU shipment to Bessines on Nov. 12, 1998.
On May 23, 2001, the Conseil d'Etat finally turned down the appeal of the environmental organization ADEPAL against the Bordeaux appeals court ruling. The Conseil d'Etat followed the appeals court's ruling that the material is not a waste. ADEPAL was sentenced to pay 20,000 Francs (US$ 2,600) in damages to COGEMA.
At the time of this ruling, five of eleven storage buildings have been completed and 32,600 tonnes of depleted uranium have already been stored. (Info Nucléaire May 31, 2001 )
Originally, COGEMA had applied for the storage of 265,000
tonnes, but during the hearings held on the project, it became
obvious that COGEMA had "forgotten" to consider some
radionuclides in its calculation of the total activity
inventory: The specific activity of the depleted uranium is
21,100 Bq/g instead of 15,902 Bq/g. The project would therefore
have exceeded the 100,000 Curie limit, requiring a different
type of license (Installation Nucléaire de Base)
involving wider public participation.
During a public enquiry, conducted between 18 Nov 1994 and 2 Jan
1995, 10,182 citizens and organizations had voted against the DU
disposal project at the Bessines site.
A review panel (commission d'enquête) that was installed
to conduct a public enquiry on the project and to produce a
recommendation on it, followed the main views of the opponents
and issued a recommendation against the proposed
project on 23 March 1995. The reasons for this vote were the
neglected existence of artificial uranium-236 in the enrichment
wastes and the thus too high total inventory of the deposit that
would have exceeded the 100,000 Curie limit, among others.
COGEMA was not able to provide a reasonable explanation for the
presence of the uranium-236.
The depleted uranium is a residue of the Eurodif Tricastin
gazeous diffusion enrichment plant in the Rhône valley.
Its residual contents of uranium-235 is 0.2 to 0.3 % and it has
the chemical form of uranium
hexafluoride (UF6). But, COGEMA doesn't declare
it a waste, but wants to store it for possible future use.
COGEMA hopes that the stored DU can be useful, if future
enrichment techniques would allow for economic extraction of the
residual uranium-235, or if uranium prices would rise
significantly.
For storage, the UF6 is to be converted to the
chemically more stable form of U3O8 at
COGEMA's Pierrelatte facility. Then it is to be transported by
rail to the Bessines site and to be stored as a powder in iron
containers. The containers (8.5 or 11 tonnes each) are to be
stored in 11 special storage buildings of 3000 m2
each, according to the original plan. Each building can store
2500 containers. The maximum dose that an individual would be
exposed to at the fence of the facility, is calculated at 0.7
mSv (70 mrem) per year, far below the (extremely high) French
limit of 5 mSv (500 mrem) for the public.
The Bessines uranium mill has ceased operation in july 1993,
since the associated uranium deposits are worked out or cannot
be mined any more under the current uranium market conditions.
So the area now faces high unemployment of former miners, and
any kind of new business is welcome. Knowing this, COGEMA now
offers to build that DU disposal facility. The total investment
is planned at 60 million French Francs (approx. US$ 10 million)
over a period of 15 years.
The storage of DU at the Bessines site is only the first of a
series of proposals made by COGEMA: others are for the
treatment and storage of thorium-wastes from the Cadarache
facility, treatment of mercury-containing wastes, and storage of
natural uranium (yellow cake).
Contact:
Fédération Limousine pour l'Étude et la
Protection de la Nature - FLEPNA
Maison de la Nature, 11, rue Jauvion, 87000 Limoges, France
Tel. +33-5-55-329558, Fax: +33-5-55-327746
former Installation nucléaire de base N°134 (Magasin d'uranium de Miramas)
Information about Miramas facility (Nuclear Safety Authority - ASN, in French)
On Oct. 2, 2007, the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) announced that the license for the Miramas uranium storage site has been retracted after the facility has been dismantled.
Savannah River Site completes depleted uranium metal shipments to Utah disposal site
The Savannah River Site has completed the final shipments of depleted uranium metals from an old manufacturing area at the complex, clearing the way for demolition of six buildings.
The M area buildings were the facilities where "target" materials for the site's five reactors were manufactured (The reactors produced plutonium for nuclear weapons).
Between March and June 2003, more than 2,600 metric tons of depleted uranium metal were shipped from the Savannah River Site to the Envirocare of Utah disposal site.
Officials also plan to ship 3,270 drums of depleted uranium oxide to EnviroCare in summer 2003 as part of a pilot program. The remaining 33,000 drums would be shipped during the next few years.
(Augusta Chronicle June 10, 2003)
SRS uranium storage raises concern
A federal review board has questioned whether uranium is being stored safely at Savannah River Site.
The Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board found that depleted uranium is being stored in corroded drums and in deteriorating buildings at the federal nuclear-weapons site.
In some cases, wooden pallets supporting stacked drums of uranium had rotted, and "significant numbers" of the drums had tilted, the board wrote.
The board also raised concerns that uranium was stored in wooden crates and cardboard boxes, increasing the risk of a fire that could affect public health beyond the boundaries of the 310-square-mile (803 km2) site.
The U.S. Department of Energy stores about 24,200 tons (21,954 tonnes) of depleted uranium at SRS.
According to the board, little progress has been made in addressing the potential safety issues which were first identified in October 1998.
(Augusta Chronicle March 21, 2002)
> See also: Current Issues Comurhex conversion plants Malvési · Pierrelatte
Refluorination campaign of depleted uranium oxide terminated prematurely at Comurhex Malvési and Pierrelatte plants
Between April 2008 and January 2009, the Malvési plant converted 7,700 t U of depleted uranium oxide (U3O8) back to uranium tetrafluoride (UF4). The total amount of depleted uranium processed in this campaign was reduced from an initially expected 15,000 t U. The campaign ended on January 24, 2009, and the plant was switched back to processing of natural uranium.
(Areva Comurhex: Bilan annuel de fonctionnement, CLIC du 21 avril 2009)
> See also: Recycled Nuclear Fuel Cost Calculator
(Select Process Parameters: Source Material / Udep / Udep supplied as U3O8, then click "Calculate")
Refluorination of depleted uranium oxide (!) ongoing at Comurhex Malvési and Pierrelatte plants
The Malvési conversion plant is currently processing depleted U3O8 (originating from the Bessines storage site) back to UF4. The orders received so far for such refluorination amount to 15,000 t, that is approximately equivalent to the annual production capacity of the plant.
(Compte rendu Réunion du CLIC Narbonne-Malvési, Séance du 10 juillet 2008)
The stored material had been processed from depleted UF6 to U3O8 by Usine W to obtain a material suitable for safer long-term storage. The strong rise of the market price of uranium now obviously makes the re-enrichment of this depleted uranium economically feasible (see also Depleted Uranium Value Calculator). For re-enrichment, the depleted uranium first has to be converted back from the oxide form to the hexafluoride form. It is unclear, where the re-enrichment of the re-fluorinated DU is performed.
U.S. NRC rulemaking for near-surface disposal of depleted uranium
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) plans to conduct
two public workshops to solicit public input on major issues associated
with a potential rulemaking for land disposal of unique waste streams
including, but not limited to, significant quantities of depleted
uranium in near-surface radioactive waste disposal facilities.
Comments on issues for the agenda should be postmarked no later than August 1, 2009.
Comments on the issues and questions presented in this notice and discussed at the workshops should be postmarked no later than October 30, 2009.
> View NRC news release June 24, 2009
Federal Register: June 24, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 120) p. 30175-30179 (download full text )
U.S. NRC leaves low-level waste classification of depleted uranium unchanged, initiates rulemaking for near-surface disposal
In a Staff Requirements Memorandum issued March 18, 2009, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission accepted the staff's recommendation that the agency continue to consider depleted uranium as Class A low-level waste (that is the least hazardous category), but amend regulations in 10 CFR Part 61 to require a site-specific analysis for the disposal of large quantities of depleted uranium and the technical requirements for such an analysis. The Commission also directed the staff to develop a guidance document for public comment that outlines the parameters and assumptions to be used in conducting the site-specific analyses.
In a dissenting vote, Commissioner Jaczko rather called for a (re)classification of depleted uranium (so far, depleted uranium is not listed and therefore by default considered Class A): "The disposal of large quantities of depleted uranium (DU) is a unique challenge because, unlike typical low-level waste, the doses increase over time rather than decrease."
> View NRC release March 18, 2009
> Download Staff Requirements Memorandum March 18, 2009 (PDF)
> Download Commission Voting Record March 18, 2009 (PDF)
> Download Response to Commission Order CLI-05-20 Regarding Depleted Uranium, SECY-08-0147, October 7, 2008 (920k PDF)
The decision made up to 1.4 million tons of DU potentially eligible to go to EnergySolutions' Utah site.
It also solves a problem for the blossoming uranium enrichment industry, which would have had no disposal options if NRC had labeled DU differently, because hotter waste is not permitted in Utah. (The Salt Lake Tribune March 18, 2009)
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's decision classifying depleted uranium as the least hazardous type of radioactive material is "unsupportable," the chairman of the House Environment and Energy Subcommittee said.
Chairman Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and subcommittee member Jim Matheson (D-Utah) demand that the NRC explain its decision in writing and provide records and communications that led to the vote. Deadline is April 2, 2009.
(AP Mar. 20/Mar. 25, 2009)
> Download Markey/Matheson letter to NRC, March 19, 2009 (PDF)
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is being granted an extension to turn over stacks of documents that might explain why it recently decided to classify large quantities of depleted uranium as the least hazardous type of low-level radioactive waste.
The deadline has now been extended to April 20.
(AP Apr. 2, 2009)
On April 9, 2009, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said classifying large amounts of depleted uranium as a more hazardous type of low-level radioactive waste without further study would not provide additional protections to public health, safety or the environment. (AP April 13, 2009)
> Download NRC letter April 9, 2009 (PDF)
NRC spokesman David McIntyre said Wednesday (April 22, 2009) three boxes worth of documents and an additional six expandable folders worth of information were delivered to the congressmen's offices on Tuesday. (Examiner April 22, 2009)
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is conducting a
strategic assessment of its low level radioactive waste (LLW)
regulatory program. The objective of this assessment is to identify and
prioritize activities that the staff can undertake to ensure a stable,
reliable and adaptable regulatory framework for effective LLW
management, while also considering future needs and changes that may
occur in the nation's commercial LLW management system.
The public comment period begins on July 7, 2006, and continues for 30 days.
Federal Register: July 7, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 130) p. 38675-38676 (download full text )
Strategic Assessment Issues Paper, DSI 5: Low Level Waste, Sep. 16, 1996 (1.8M PDF - ADAMS ML061700297)
Transcripts of NRC's Advisory Committee on Nuclear Waste (ACNW): May 23, 2006 · May 24, 2006 (PDF)
U.S. NRC finds that depleted uranium is low level waste
> See here
Import of DU counterweights from United Kingdom to USA for land burial in Texas
> See here
U.S. NRC Petition for Rulemaking concerning control of disused DU counterweights
> See here
U.S. NRC Radiological Assessment of Exemptions for Source and Byproduct Materials
> See here
Utah Radiation Control Board to study depleted uranium disposal
Utah's Radiation Control Board will dig deeper into the long-term risks of depleted uranium before it decides whether the unusual form of low-level radioactive waste warrants a moratorium.
(The Salt Lake Tribune June 9, 2009)
Utah Radiation Control Board ponders moratorium for depleted uranium disposal at Clive LLRW disposal site
A half dozen Utahns urged regulators to demand that the long-term safety of residents is assured before allowing any more depleted uranium to be buried in the state.
The message, part of an organized effort by the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah (HEAL), landed before the Utah Radiation Control Board on Tuesday (May 12, 2009). And the panel asked its lawyers to begin looking at the legal implications of imposing a moratorium on the low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) disposal until that assurance can be made confidently.
EnergySolutions Inc.'s low-level radioactive waste-disposal site in Tooele County has accepted about 49,000 tons of depleted uranium over about two decades.
(The Salt Lake Tribune, May 12, 2009)
> See extra page