U.S. Consolidated Interim Storage Facility for Used Nuclear Fuel Reaches Regulatory Milestone

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 28, 2016 – With support from AREVA, Waste Control Specialists LLC (WCS) today submitted a license application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a consolidated interim storage facility (CISF) in Andrews County, Texas. The proposed facility is designed to store used nuclear fuel and other waste generated at nuclear energy facilities.

“Establishing an economically viable solution for used fuel management in the United States is vital to sustaining and advancing nuclear energy,” said Greg Vesey, senior vice president of AREVA TN Americas. “The CISF is an important part of meeting this goal. Working with our partners, WCS and subcontractor NAC International, we are proud to reach this regulatory milestone in the project’s development.”

AREVA signed an agreement with WCS in early 2015 to assist with the license application and environmental report for the facility. WCS submitted its license application on time, following a year of pre-application meetings with the NRC.

In its application, the company proposed an initial 40-year license for the facility, which is designed to store 40,000 metric tons of used nuclear fuel. WCS expects the CISF to be operational by 2021.