Westinghouse says Columbia LEU+ fuel facility moving through permitting; community engagement and environmental questions remain

A Westinghouse Columbia representative provided a project update to the Governor’s Nuclear Advisory Council on March 31 describing environmental compliance work, community outreach and plans for a new LEU+ fuel fabrication facility intended to produce higher‑enrichment fuel assemblies for commercial reactors.

"Environmental compliance is the minimum standard for performance," the Westinghouse Columbia representative said, summarizing the plant’s recent activity on wastewater characterization, lagoon clean‑outs and regulatory coordination.

What Westinghouse said

- Permitting and environmental work: The presenter said the plant completed an extensive process and wastewater characterization to support removal of an on‑site sanitary lagoon and to inform design of the LEU+ facility. The company is working with the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (DES) under a consent agreement and holds weekly coordination calls; a DES permit‑centric meeting was being set for late April or early May.

- Technology and schedule: Westinghouse described the proposed LEU+ design as a two‑step dry conversion process (different from the existing wet conversion route) that reduces effluent volumes. The company said it has one public contract already signed for LEU+ fuel and has others under negotiation. Presenters said the facility will be licensed by NRC via a license‑amendment request; Westinghouse is targeting the late‑2028 timeframe for first LEU+ fuel assemblies, with timelines dependent on contracts and regulatory approvals.

- Jobs and footprint: Westinghouse said peak construction would employ about 400 construction workers and the completed facility would add roughly 100 permanent employees. The company said the total multi‑level facility area would be on the order of several hundred thousand square feet (roughly 300,000–400,000 square feet across floors; ground footprint smaller).

Community and regulatory concerns

Council members pressed Westinghouse on public‑engagement methods after some community participants said earlier drop‑in meetings had limited reach and visibility. Westinghouse said it will continue a mix of mailers, emails, in‑person drop‑ins and quarterly engagement boards and that it is evaluating expanded outreach with local schools and HBCUs.

What matters

The LEU+ facility would enable utilities to move from about an 18‑month fuel cycle to 24 months when customer utilities adopt higher enrichment and densified fuel, Westinghouse said. That change affects utility operations, outage scheduling and potentially spent‑fuel handling. Westinghouse noted that utilities must complete technical and licensing work for pools and safety bases before adopting higher‑enrichment fuel.

Ending

Westinghouse told the council it will continue the permitting, NRC license‑amendment process and community outreach, and that the company will provide DES and NRC documentation as milestones progress. Community members and council members asked for clearer, scheduled opportunities for public hearings and for a more visible calendar of permit milestones.