NRC opens, defines hearing opportunity for Orano’s Project Ike

[Marlin]

NRC opens, defines hearing opportunity for Orano's Project Ike

https://www.ans.org/news/2026-08-20/article-8311/nrc-opens-defines-hearing-opportunity-for-oranos-project-ike/

[Core Content]

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has opened a 60-day window for public hearing requests regarding Orano Enrichment USA's application for the Project Ike facility in Tennessee. The commission intends to consolidate the licensing process by potentially skipping a separate uncontested hearing if a contested hearing occurs, aiming to complete reviews within 315 days.

This procedural shift tests the agency's interpretation of Section 193 of the Atomic Energy Act, which mandates specific adjudicatory requirements for enrichment facilities. Commissioner Matthew J. Marzano dissented, arguing the move bypasses statutory obligations. For the industry, this case establishes a precedent for how the NRC balances expedited licensing timelines against established legal mandates for public oversight and record-keeping.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is considering Orano Enrichment USA's application for a license to build a centrifuge enrichment facility in Oak Ridge, Tenn. A notice published in the Federal Register on August 12 includes a commission order and an announcement of the opportunity to request a contested hearing.

The publication of the FR notice marked the start of a 60-day period in which a member of the public can file a request for a hearing. If contentions are adjudicated, the NRC intends to not hold a second, uncontested hearing before issuing a license on the $5 billion Project Ike Enrichment Facility, where Orano plans to reenrich depleted uranium hexafluoride (UF6) tails and enrich natural-grade UF6 to a maximum of 8-weight percent uranium-235.

Read the full article at ans.org:
https://www.ans.org/news/2026-08-20/article-8311/nrc-opens-defines-hearing-opportunity-for-oranos-project-ike/