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DOE Seeking Input on Alternative Uses of Nickel Inventory

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking input from industry representatives on the safe disposition of approximately 15,300 tons of nickel scrap recovered from uranium enrichment process equipment at the Department's Oak Ridge, TN, and Paducah, KY, facilities. The Expression of Interest (EOI), released today, will assist in DOE's evaluation of restricted uses of its nickel material for controlled radiological applications. These restricted uses could include use in commercial nuclear power plants, DOE nuclear facilities, or by the U.S. Navy. The Department will solicit input through May 8, 2007.

All qualified interested parties will be required to demonstrate their ability to obtain all required authorizations, licenses, personnel, and equipment to (1) accept and declassify any classified nickel scrap at a DOE approved facility; (2) transport, store, and process radioactively-contaminated nickel at a licensed radioactive materials facility; (3) disposition the unclassified and decontaminated nickel scrap into products suitable for use only in controlled government and/or commercial radiological applications; and (4) disposition all byproducts and residual wastes.

DOE will evaluate alternatives submitted through the EOI only for restricted and regulated use of its processed DOE nickel. DOE will determine its future acquisition plans, if any, after reviewing the responses to the request for EOI and consistent with the outcome of the appropriate environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act.

An information meeting in Oak Ridge, TN, is tentatively scheduled for April 3, 2007, for registered participants. An information meeting in Paducah, KY, is scheduled for April 5, 2007, and includes a short tour to view the inventory.

For more information on the EOI or on the information meetings, access www.fedbizopps.gov.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy