Aiken Standard - MOX Gets 10-Year Extension for Construction

News Article

By Derrek Asberry

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or NRC, announced Friday that it is extending the construction completion deadline for Savannah River Site's MOX facility an additional 10 years.

In May, CB&I AREVA MOX Services requested that the NRC extend the construction authorization expiration date from March 30, 2015, to March 30, 2025. The request was made to keep construction of the facility in good, legal standing during future construction.

In October, the NRC wrote in the federal register that it was still reviewing the request, and that if the request was denied, MOX construction would have to end in 2015 once authorization expires.

On Friday, the NRC wrote in a press release that it is granting the extension and stated that MOX Services has shown "good cause" to extend the deadline for completion.

"MOX Services asked for the extension in May after a number of factors delayed construction, including lower than requested annual funding from Congress and delays in the delivery of components and key construction activities," officials wrote.

The NRC published an environmental assessment Oct. 23 that found no significant environmental impact would result from extending the authorization.

"MOX Services has made substantial progress in the construction of the (MOX facility) with overall construction status in excess of 60 percent complete," officials wrote.

After hearing the news, U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., said the extension is an important step forward for the facility and the Aiken community.

"Finishing this facility and beginning to dispose of the plutonium currently stored there is a critical part of a nuclear arms control agreement between the United States and Russia," he said. "I will continue to work with my congressional colleagues to ensure the facility is completed in the most cost-efficient manner."

The MOX program is in the midst of a federal budget battle, but it is still operating under temporary funding. President Barack Obama's budget request sought to freeze construction, but the House approved $345 million for construction in July. The federal budget did not pass in the Senate before the Oct. 1 deadline, so funding is guaranteed until Dec. 11, which officials hope will be long enough for Congress to secure a budget.

The MOX project employs about 1,400 workers and is part of a nonproliferation agreement with Russia to dispose of 34 metric tons of weapons-grade plutonium. The project is 63 percent complete.

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