BETHESDA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 1, 2007--The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) today issued an order detailing an expedited schedule that anticipates a licensing decision for USEC Inc.'s (NYSE:USU) American Centrifuge Plant in April 2007. The NRC's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board had previously indicated that a licensing decision would be issued in May 2007.
The American Centrifuge Plant will be a commercial uranium enrichment facility using next generation gas centrifuge technology originally developed by the U.S. Department of Energy but with expected design improvements. Construction for the commercial plant in Piketon, Ohio, is expected to begin after the license is issued.
USEC expects to install and operate a Lead Cascade in its Piketon Demonstration Facility by mid-2007 and fully deploy the commercial plant after the end of the decade. The NRC issued its final Safety Evaluation Report and final Environmental Impact Statement for the American Centrifuge Plant last September and May, respectively.
USEC Inc., a global energy company, is a leading supplier of enriched uranium fuel for commercial nuclear power plants.
This news release contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that involve risks and uncertainty. Economic, business, market, regulatory, technology and other factors could cause USEC's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements. More information about these factors is contained in USEC's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including USEC's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, which are available on USEC's website www.usec.com. USEC does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements except as required by law.
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SOURCE: USEC Inc.