THE PIKETON DECEPTION: HOW A NUCLEAR PLANT'S "ASSESSMENT" IGNORES A TOXIC LEGACY AND ENDANGERS OHIO
Introduction: A License to Pollute? The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) stands poised to approve a significant license amendment for American Centrifuge Operating, LLC (ACO). This amendment, outlined in the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the American Centrifuge Plant (ACP) in Piketon, Ohio, would extend the High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) demonstration cascade operation until June 30, 2034, and substantially increase its uranium hexafluoride (UF6) possession limit. The EA, issued by the NRC's Environmental Center of Expertise, concludes with a "Finding of No Significant Impact" (FONSI), asserting that the proposed action would not significantly affect the quality of the human environment. This conclusion is based on the premise that the project involves no new construction, no increase in production rates, and its impacts are merely an extension of "previously assessed impacts".