Project IKE Enrichment Facility Part 70 licence to construct and operate (centrifuge enrichment up to 8 wt% U-235)

Project IKE Enrichment Facility Part 70 licence to construct and operate (centrifuge enrichment up to 8 wt% U-235): NRC fuel-cycle licence review for Orano Enrichment USA LLC — under review. 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

NRC target decision: 2027-04-30 (technical review); contested hearing to finish within 315 days of 2026-08-12 FR notice (month only). Phased: ER Jan. 30, 2026; physical security plan Mar. 26, 2026; LA Mar. 27, 2026; supplement May 8, 2026 answering a May 1, 2026 RSI. ISSP deferred to Sept. 21, 2026 by exemption. Acceptance letter table lists "Acceptance | May 22, 2026" while the letter itself is dated May 21, 2026 and the FR/Q3 report say May 21 (May 21 used). Q3 FY2026 report: acceptance was projected 04/27/26 but completed 05/21/26, "delayed due to pending resolution of staff’s request for supplemental information". Schedule relies on a crosswalk to the Eagle Rock (EREF) precedent. Section 193 mandatory hearing; Commission (CLI-26-11) expects no separate uncontested hearing if a contested one is held. NRC efficiencies page says staff is piloting generative AI "in reviewing a new enrichment facility application" (facility not named).

Timeline

• 2026-03-27 — Application received: “The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff received the March 27, 2026, letter submitting the safety and safeguards portion of Orano Enrichment USA, LLC's (Orano) license application ... This submittal followed the earlier submittals of the Environmental Report on January 30, 2026 (ML26030A238), and the Physical Security Plan on March 26, 2026” (source)
• 2026-05-21 — Accepted for review (docketed): “On May 21, 2026, the NRC staff informed Orano of its determination that ``the application provides sufficient information to proceed with a detailed technical review'' and formally accepted the application for review.” (source)

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

Also tracked

• Orano Project IKE enrichment facility (Oak Ridge) in the Uranium Enrichment & HALEU Tracker Licensing

NNN coverage

Related reviews

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• TRISO-X Fuel Fabrication Facility (TX-1) Part 70 special nuclear material licence (Category II HALEU TRISO fuel) Issued · 38.9 mo
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See all 75 reviews in the NRC Licensing Review Tracker →

Sources

1. https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2613/ML26134A324.pdf
2. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/12/2026-16372/orano-enrichment-usa-llc-project-ike-enrichment-facility-notice-of-receipt-of-application-for-license-notice-of-consideration-of-issuance
3. https://www.nrc.gov/sites/default/files/cdn/doc-collection-news/2026/26-057.pdf
4. https://www.nrc.gov/docs/ML2619/ML26198A284.pdf
5. https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/us-enrichment-plant-begins-accelerated-review