April 12, 2006

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Utah Firm Showing Interest in Nuke-Waste Recycling Plant
EnergySolutions: It is among 40 companies nationwide that might build the pilot plant for the DOE By Robert Gehrke
Salt Lake Tribune, UT
April 8, 2006

WASHINGTON - EnergySolutions, of Salt Lake City, is among nearly 40 companies that have expressed interest to the Energy Department in operating a pilot plant to recycle nuclear waste, but insists it will not build its site in Utah.
   

"I can promise you, categorically, it's not anywhere in Utah," said Tim Barney, vice president of governmental relations at the company, formerly Envirocare.
   

Barney would not disclose where EnergySolutions would locate its potential site.
   

Last month, the Energy Department asked communities and companies to speak up quickly if they were interested in participating in the DOE project aimed at finding ways to reuse spent nuclear fuel.
   

President Bush's Global Nuclear Energy Partnership envisions developing technologies that can separate the dangerous waste elements from used nuclear reactor fuel. That would enable the fuel to be re-used and minimize the amount that would have to be buried in a permanent repository planned for Yucca Mountain, Nev. It could postpone indefinitely the need for a second repository when Yucca is full.
   

Duratek Inc., which is in the process of being acquired by EnergySolutions, also expressed interest in the project, according to a list of companies released Friday by the Energy Department. Calls to the company seeking additional information were not immediately returned Friday evening.
   

Congress has allocated $20 million this year to evaluate possible sites. The Energy Department expects to begin accepting formal proposals by the spring and begin site evaluation studies in the summer.
   

The department released 36 names in all, including individuals, counties and corporations. Others, like EnergySolutions', were withheld at the companies' request.
   

Those expressing interest included firms with major, established nuclear operations, such as AREVA Enterprises Inc., CH2M Hill, and General Electric Co., as well as Washington Savannah River Co., which operates the Energy Department's Savannah River facility in South Carolina.
   

In addition, Lea County, N.M.; Benton County, Wash., and Coffey County, Kan., are interested in the project.
   

Harry Teague, County commission chairman in Lea County, said his county was working in cooperation with neighboring Eddy County, hoping it could bring jobs to both counties.
   

"We think [the president's initiative], when it materializes will mean jobs and will take both communities and their infrastructures. That's the reason for setting the partnership," Teague said. "Our anticipation is to furnish a site. DOE will furnish the science and select the private company (to run it)."
   

The United States abandoned reprocessing during the Carter administration. Great Britain, France, Russia and Japan have continued to pursue reprocessing programs.
  

Existing technologies are much more expensive than mining new uranium and the leftover products pose a risk that they could be used in nuclear weapons. Part of the initiative will seek to try to address the proliferation risk.
   

"The successful demonstration of . . . recycling technologies will enable the U.S. and our international partners to substantially change the way that spent nuclear fuel is managed, assuring a safe, long-term, and environmentally clean energy supply for the U.S. and the world while greatly reducing proliferation concerns," Deputy Energy Secretary Clay Sell said in announcing the first step in the initiative last month. "Seeking the best ideas from the public and private sectors on where to build the demonstration facilities is a key step forward."