Conventional milling is one of the two primary recovery methods that are currently used to extract uranium from mined ore. A conventional uranium mill is a chemical plant that extracts uranium using the following process:Trucks deliver uranium ore to the mill, where it is crus...
Uranium enriched to at least 20 percent uranium-235 (a higher concentration than exists in natural uranium ore). For detail, see Uranium Enrichment.
The process of increasing the percentage of uranium-235 (U-235) from 0.7 percent in natural uranium to about 3 to 5 percent for use in fuel for nuclear reactors. Enrichment can be done through gaseous diffusion, gas centrifuges, or laser isotope separation. In May 2013, the la...
Printable VersionBackgroundThe production of fuel for nuclear power plants starts with taking uranium ore from the ground and then purifying and processing it through a series of steps. Uranium recovery focuses on extracting natural uranium ore from the earth and concentrating...
Printable VersionOn this page:Title I – Legacy sitesTitle II - Sites licensed in 1978 or laterMilling is the first step in making natural uranium ore into fuel for nuclear reactors. Uranium mills use chemicals to extract uranium and make "yellowcake," a powder ...
A facility that receives natural uranium in the form of ore concentrate (known as “yellowcake”) and converts it into uranium hexafluoride (UF6), in preparation for fabricating fuel for nuclear reactors. For additional detail, see Uranium Conversion.
Natural uranium extracted from the ground consists on average of uranium-238 (U238) at 99.3% concentration and uranium-235 (U235) at 0.7% concentration. The uranium-235 component must be enriched to between 3-5% for use in nuclear power reactor fuel in the United States. Durin...
This page includes links to files in non-HTML format. See Plugins, Viewers, and Other Tools for more information.Crownpoint, New Mexico, Section 8Docket Number: 040-08968License: SUA-1580 (Expired January 5, 2003, in timely renewal)Licensee: NuFuels, Inc.Facility Type: In Situ...
Printable VersionNuclear reactors use uranium to make electricity. But there are many steps between mining the ore and turning it into fuel pellets for reactors. "Uranium recovery" is the term for taking the ore out of the earth and concentrating (or milling) it into...
The licensee may use a uranium sinker bar in well logging applications only if it is legibly impressed with the words "CAUTION--RADIOACTIVE--DEPLETED URANIUM" and "NOTIFY CIVIL AUTHORITIES (or COMPANY NAME) IF FOUND."[65 FR 20345, Apr. 17, 2000]
Printable VersionOn this page:Gas CentrifugeGaseous DiffusionLaser EnrichmentNRC ResponsibilitiesNuclear power plants use uranium for fuel. One type of uranium atom – uranium-235 or U235 – is easily split to produce energy. U235 makes up less than 1 percent of natu...
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has a long-standing practice of conducting its regulatory responsibilities in an open manner, and keeping the public informed of the agency's regulatory, licensing, and oversight activities. For that reason, the NRC is committed...
Printable VersionUranium Import BanOn May 13th, 2024, President Biden signed into law The Prohibiting Uranium Imports Act. The Act, which terminates on December 31, 2040, bans importation of certain uranium products from the Russian Federation or a Russian entity.Specifically,...
The uranium fuel cycle begins by extracting and milling natural uranium ore to produce "yellow cake," a varying mixture of uranium oxides. Low-grade natural ores contain about 0.05 to 0.3% by weight of uranium oxide while high-grade natural ores can contain up to 70%...
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) currently regulates operating uranium recovery facilities in New Mexico, South Dakota and Nebraska. However, the NRC does not directly regulate the active uranium recovery operations in Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah, as they ar...
Uranium enriched to at least 20 percent uranium-235 (a higher concentration than exists in natural uranium ore). For detail, see Uranium Enrichment.
This page lists, in chronological order, the public meetings that the staff of the U.S.Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) conducted (or participated in) in 2017 to discuss topics related to Uranium Recovery. These meetings may relate to licensed facilities; applications in re...
To stay current with news and information from the NRC, you may subscribe to any of the following e-mail lists.Note: As of September 28, 2018, publicly available decommissioning and uranium recovery site correspondence originating from the Division of Decommissioning, Uranium ...
NRC Staff PresentationExternal Panel:Jonathan Edwards, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)Cliff Rader, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)Benjamin (Frank) Martin, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of Interior Susan Hall, U.S. Geological SurveyNancy Nuttbrock, Wyom...
This page lists, in chronological order, the public meetings that the staff of the U.S.Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) conducted in 2008 to discuss topics related to Uranium Recovery. These meetings may relate to licensed facilities; applications in review; expected applic...
This page lists, in chronological order, the public meetings that the staff of the U.S.Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) conducted (or participated in) in 2015 to discuss topics related to Uranium Recovery. These meetings may relate to licensed facilities; applications in re...
This page lists, in chronological order, the public meetings that the staff of the U.S.Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) conducted (or participated in) in 2014 to discuss topics related to Uranium Recovery. These meetings may relate to licensed facilities; applications in re...
Cost Projection TableThe table below offers resource estimates for many of the common licensing and oversight activities in the area uranium recovery. This information is being offered to enhance stakeholder awareness of the costs associated with these activities. It will also...
To provide for the disposal, long-term stabilization and control of uranium mill tailings in a safe and environmentally sound manner, and to minimize or eliminate radiation health hazards to the public, Congress enacted the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978 (...
This page lists, in chronological order, the public meetings that the staff of the U.S.Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) conducted in 2010 to discuss topics related to Uranium Recovery. These meetings may relate to licensed facilities; applications in review; expected applic...