NRC issues final environmental review for Kentucky laser uranium enrichment plant

WASHINGTON, Oct 26 — The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued a final environmental impact statement (EIS) on Global Laser Enrichment, LLC's (GLE) application to build and operate a uranium enrichment facility in Kentucky, according to a notice dated Oct 26.

The NRC staff's final recommendation, "unless safety issues mandate otherwise," is that the agency issue GLE the license to construct and operate the proposed Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility, the notice said.

The facility would sit on a 322-acre greenfield site in McCracken County, Kentucky, about 5 miles west of Paducah, according to the notice.

The proposed license would cover building the facility and then operating it for up to 40 years. The facility would use laser-based isotope separation technology to enrich uranium.

It would be authorized to re-enrich depleted uranium hexafluoride (DUF6) tails to natural levels and to enrich natural-grade UF6 up to 8% uranium-235 by weight, the notice said.

The EIS evaluates the environmental impacts of issuing the license and of a no-action alternative, according to the notice. The staff recommendation draws on GLE's environmental report, consultations with federal, state, local and Tribal officials, public comments and the staff's independent review.

The final EIS was made publicly available on Oct 23, 2026, and includes responses to comments on the draft, the NRC said.

The NRC issued a draft EIS on March 23, 2026, and the public comment period on it ended on May 11, 2026.