december ’13 public meeting update

See ML 14086A497
“During the December 19, 2013, public meeting, MA stated that it planned to submit a White Paper presenting its views on technical and legal aspects of the ablation technology and, if applicable, its place in NRC’s regulations. MA stated that it planned to submit this White Paper by February 1, 2014. As of April 1, 2014, the NRC staff has not received the White Paper and understands that it remains in development."


“MA’s November 19, 2013, letter to the NRC described how it has controlled its possession of post-ablation material to small quantities under the general license limits in 10 CFR 40.22. The NRC staff encourages MA to continue to keep accurate documentation on the quantity of post ablation material in its possession. Until such time that an NRC decision on the licensing and
regulatory aspects of the ablation technology is made, MA should continue to be aware of the current limits in 10 CFR 40.22 as well as the lower possession limits that would apply to MA beginning August 27, 2014.”

A gentle reminder/warning from the NRC - any transgressions relating to either record keeping or making more material than allowed would be taken seriously.

If you’re reading this for the first time it means the equipment with stated 5Mt/hr processing could only run 150lbs of ore per run (legal limit).

It would appear that less than that is actually being run before the pipework dies from the corrosive effects of the process.

It's intrigued me for some time why they don't simply use some other innocuous substance that does not need a license to concentrate to prove the claims of 5Mt/hr.......

Demonstrate the viability of the equipment at scale on another substance and then worry about the Uranium related issues.

Perhaps that will reveal too much too quickly, says the cynic in me!