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Honeywell

1.0 Site Identification

2.0 Site Status Summary

This facility is the only operational conversion facility in the United States. There are two CaF2 settling ponds on this site. In CY 2001, NRC determined that the material in the ponds could be treated as exempt material, as defined in 10 CFR 40.13(a), and should be disposed of accordingly. In CY 2003, this licensee remediated "A" pond and disposed of the solid material. Treatable liquid has been removed from "C" pond, but the licensee is planning to treat the solids differently than in the past. The licensee is planning a significant engineering project to replace its current effluent treatment facility with a system capable of recovering uranium and calcium solids that will not utilize a lagoon component.

The Honeywell uranium conversion facility is on 1100 acre site (60 acres within the fence-line). Authorized to convert natural uranium ore to natural uranium hexafluoride. Uranium conversion process occurs in the Feeds Material Building. Honeywell is authorized to possess 150 million pounds of natural uranium for the chemical conversion of uranium ore concentrates into uranium hexafluoride. This Honeywell plant is a large producer of fluorine, which is used exclusively onsite for the production of uranium hexafluoride and other, non-NRC regulated chemicals such as antimony pentafluoride, iodine pentafluoride, and sulfur hexafluoride. When released, as with uranium hexafluoride, these chemicals react with moisture in the air and produce hydrofluoric acid. Uranium ore concentrates are received at the Metropolis Works Sampling Plant in DOT approved containers, and are sampled and the samples are then split, blended, ground and dried in order to prepare six 150 gram samples for analysis. Concurrent drying techniques are used to determine the moisture content of each lot of concentrates. The entire sampling operation is independently audited to ensure accuracy. The samples are distributed as follows: 2 to Honeywell, 2 to the supplier, and 2 are retained for possible umpire use. Upon agreement by the supplier and Honeywell, on the quantity of uranium received, the transfer of material is completed. Or, in the case of analytical differences, the retained samples are transmitted to an independent laboratory for verification. Once the ore have been sampled, and analytical results for uranium assay have been agreed upon, the uranium enters the conversion process. The raw materials are first passed through a calciner which removes carbonates, water and others volatile materials. The calcined material is then blended and agglomerated in equipment specially designed by Honeywell to obtain an optimum particle size for fluid operations. The agglomerates are screened and classified. The so called prepared feed is sent to a fluid bed reductor where it is contacted at elevated temperature with hydrogen. Certain impurities are reacted and evolved out of the system in the waste gas stream which is filtered, incinerated, and discharge without further treatment. The reduced concentrated uranium dioxide (UO2) is sent directly to the hydro-fluorination fluid bed reactors where reaction with anhydrous hydrofluoric acid (AHF) produces uranium tetrafluoride (UF4). Again, certain impurities are removed with the gases which are filtered and scrubbed prior to venting to the atmosphere. Final treatment of scrubber liquors is performed at the Environmental Protection Facility. The UF4 is contacted with elemental fluorine in the fluid bed fluorinators. Most of the metallic impurities remain as the UF6 is volatilized. The impurities are removed through the Fluoride Volatility Process. The purified concentrates are rerouted to the calciner. As the UF6 leaves the fluorination step, it is filtered to separate elutriated particulate material and is then desublimed in specially designed heat exchangers. The heat exchangers are periodically cycled by heating the UF6 under pressure to its melting point whereupon it is sent to the distillation unit. After distillation, the high purity UF6 (99.99%) liquid is drained in to 14 ton product cylinders. The cylinders are sampled, weighed and placed on a transfer buggy to be removed to a storage area where they are allowed to sit for five days to solidify prior handling. Once solidified, the UF6 can be transported to Enrichment Facilities or stored for future use.

3.0 Major Technical or Regulatory Issues

The license was renewed for 10 years starting maly 11, 2007.

4.0 Estimated Date For Closure

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Friday, September 26, 2008