International Isotopes Inc. announced Wednesday it will be constructing a facility to process depleted uranium hexafluoride tails from uranium enrichment operations. Company officials said they're taking this step based on the recent announcements of several large companies’ plans to build nuclear fuel enrichment plants in the United States, including Areva, according to KIFI TV.
International Isotopes currently has a plant outside of Idaho Falls. International Isotopes officials said it hasn't decided where to build its plant. It still must get a license from the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission and says it plans to apply in 2009, according to the Associated Press.
President and CEO Steve T. Laflin said the company plans to search for a location in the coming weeks and months. He said the facility could employ about 100 construction workers and eventually have 30 to 50 full-time employees.
Company officials said the facility will convert UF6 into an environmentally friendly solution for disposal. When the facility is completed it could produce about 60 million pounds of depleted UF6 tailings each year.
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