Framatome Richland site-wide enrichment limit increase from 5.0 to <6.5 wt% U-235 (Amendment 20)

Framatome Richland site-wide enrichment limit increase from 5.0 to <6.5 wt% U-235 (Amendment 20): NRC fuel-cycle amendment review for Framatome, Inc. — issued, 10.7 months from docketing to decision. Sourced dates and schedule.

Background: NRC reactor licensing process, explained · The ADVANCE Act, explained: what changed and where the NRC stands

Current state

Review time is measured in average months from the date the NRC docketed the application to the decision. The NRC's own reported durations may measure to the final safety evaluation instead.

Notes

The 9-month schedule is cited on the NRC Licensing Efficiencies page without a target date or start point; the acceptance letter was not read, so the target date is left null. Decided ~10.7 months after the May 2, 2025 acceptance (computed), i.e. later than 9 months if the clock started at acceptance. Supplemented by emails Apr. 15 and 21, 2025. The approval letter cites the submittal as ADAMS ML25020A006 while the FR lists ML25183A361; both dated Jan. 20, 2025. Hearing opportunity noticed July 15, 2025 (deadline Sept. 15, 2025). Operational readiness review before >5 wt% processing reported by trade press for early 2027 (not verified in an NRC source). Licence/permit: SNM-1227.

Timeline

• 2025-01-20 — Application received: “The NRC has received, by letter dated January 20, 2025, an application from Framatome, Inc., to amend materials license SNM-1227” (source)
• 2025-05-02 — Accepted for review (docketed): “This application was accepted on May 2, 2025.” (source)
• 2026-03-23 — Issued: “March 23, 2026 ... SUBJECT: FRAMATOME, INC. – REQUEST TO AMEND LICENSE AND APPROVE THE INCREASE MAXIMUM ENRICHMENTS AT THE RICHLAND, WASHINGTON FACILITY FROM 5.0 TO 6.5 WEIGHT PERCENT URANIUM-235 ENRICHMENTS ... Signed by Govan, Tekia on 03/23/26” (source)

The timeline is append-only: corrections are added as new entries. See the NNN Data License Terms for reuse of the event history.

NNN coverage

Related reviews

• Framatome Richland authorization of TRISO fuel fabrication in the Specialty Fuels Building and enrichment increase from 6.5 to up to 10.0 wt% U-235 (Amendment 21) Issued · 11.6 mo
• Framatome Richland extension of criticality validation methodology and minimum margin of subcriticality to enrichments up to 20 wt% U-235 (Amendment 19) Issued · —
• American Centrifuge Plant Phase III HALEU operations for up to 9 years (to June 30, 2034) with possession limit increase (Amendment 29) Issued · 4.5 mo
• National Enrichment Facility amendment applying the <10 wt% LEU+ limit to recycling and support systems (LAR-24-01, Amendment 110) Issued · 8.1 mo
• American Centrifuge Plant continuation of HALEU operations to June 30, 2025 (Amendment 27) Issued · —
• National Enrichment Facility amendment raising enrichment limit from 5.5 to <10 wt% U-235 (LEU+) for production systems (LAR-23-02, Amendment 105) Issued · 9.4 mo
• American Centrifuge Plant increase in HALEU possession limits to produce ~1,400 kg HALEU UF6 (Amendment 24) Issued · —
• American Centrifuge Plant extension of NRC-licensed HALEU operations to end of 2024 (Amendment 20) Issued · —

See all 75 reviews in the NRC Licensing Review Tracker →

Sources

1. https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2605/ML26057A165.pdf
2. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/07/15/2025-13169/framatome-inc-framatome-fuel-fabrication-facility-license-amendment-application
3. https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2609/ML26096A298.pdf
4. https://www.nrc.gov/regulations-legislation/effectiveness-efficiency-and-timeliness-initiatives-that-support-unleashing-american-energy/licensing-efficiencies