Public meetings set for May on uranium enrichment plant

Comment: tell the feds you do not want this nuke thing near ya!!!!!

Published: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 11:14 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 11:14 a.m.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold two public meetings May 19 in Wilmington on the uranium enrichment plant proposed by Global Laser Enrichment LLC.

The meetings on the campus of the University of North Carolina Wilmington are part of the NRC’s review of the company’s environment report, submitted to regulators Jan. 30.

The unit of GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy has indicated it intends to file the rest of its application – which will address safety aspects of the facility – by the end of June, the NRC said.

The NRC is seeking public comments on the regulator’s environmental review of the facility, which will use new laser technology to enrich uranium for use as fuel by nuclear power plants.

NRC staff will explain the licensing review process and provide time for the public to speak about what specific environmental issues should be addressed in the report.

The meetings will be held 1 to 4 p.m and 7 to 10 p.m. at UNCW’s Warwick Center, Ballroom 1.

NRC staff members will be available an hour before each meeting to speak informally to members of the public, the NRC said.

Those wishing to speak or to submit written comments are encouraged to pre-register by Friday. Contact Antoinette Walker-Smith at (800) 368-5642, extension 6390.

Global Laser Enrichment is seeking a 40-year license to build and operate the uranium enrichment facility on GE Hitachi’s Castle Hayne campus.

The state has granted up to $25.7 million in incentives over 10 years if GE Hitachi invests around $900 million and creates hundreds of additional jobs here. New Hanover County has approved its own incentives of up to $10 million over 12 years.

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20090505/articles/905059983&tc=yahoo