[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 166 (Friday, August 28, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 55636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17590]


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NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. 70-7033, M70-7033; CLI-26-12]


Global Laser Enrichment, llc; Paducah Laser Enrichment Facility; 
Commissioners: Ho. K. Nieh, Chairman; David A. Wright; Bradley R. 
Crowell; Matthew J. Marzano; Douglas W. Weaver; Order

    On March 4, 2026, the Commission of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 
Commission (NRC) issued an order in the above-captioned docket 
providing notice of the receipt of an application from Global Laser 
Enrichment, LLC (GLE) for a license to possess and use special nuclear 
material for the purpose of constructing and operating a uranium 
enrichment facility in McCracken County, Kentucky.\1\ The GLE order 
also provided specific guidance on the adjudicatory procedures to be 
used in the conduct of the proceeding, including direction regarding 
the conduct of an on-the-record uncontested hearing as well as the 
opportunity to request a contested hearing.
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    \1\ Global Laser Enrichment, LLC (Paducah Laser Enrichment 
Facility), CLI-26-3, 103 NRC __(Mar. 4, 2026) (ML26062A214).
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    Subsequently, on August 7, 2026, the Commission issued an order in 
a separate proceeding concerning the receipt and notice of an 
application from Orano Enrichment USA LLC (Orano) also for a license to 
receive, acquire, possess, and transfer byproduct, source, and special 
nuclear material but for the purpose of constructing and operating the 
Project IKE Enrichment Facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.\2\ In the 
Orano order, the Commission provided guidance on the adjudicatory 
procedures to apply in the proceeding, including an expectation that in 
the event a contested hearing on the application is held, the 
Commission would not also conduct an uncontested hearing.
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    \2\ Orano Enrichment USA LLC (Project IKE Enrichment Facility), 
CLI-26-11, 104 NRC__(Aug. 7, 2026) (ML26218A174).
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    On our own motion, we have considered the procedural guidance 
provided for both proceedings. Pursuant to our inherent supervisory 
authority to oversee and manage the NRC's adjudicatory proceedings, we 
have decided to modify the GLE proceeding to eliminate the previously 
noticed uncontested hearing and adopt the adjudicatory procedures 
outlined in the Orano order.\3\
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    \3\ Section II, Notice of Mandatory Hearing, of the GLE order 
(CLI-26-3) is effectively removed by this modification. The GLE 
contested proceeding constitutes the required on-the-record hearing. 
To the extent applicable, any future contested proceedings regarding 
this license application will be conducted under 10 CFR part 2, 
Subparts C and L.
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    To effectuate our decision today and comply with the requirements 
of section 193.(b) of the Atomic Energy Act, we re-open the contested 
proceeding previously terminated by the Atomic Safety and Licensing 
Board (Board) regarding the GLE license application.\4\ Further, we 
hereby terminate the uncontested hearing established by the Board on 
July 13, 2026.
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    \4\ See Global Laser Enrichment, LLC (Paducah Laser Enrichment 
Facility), LBP-26-7, 104 NRC __(Jul. 9, 2026). This reopening of the 
record does not impact the Commission's consideration of the pending 
appeal filed by Kentucky Resources Council, Inc., on August 3, 2026. 
See, Notice of Appeal of ASLB Panel Memorandum and Order and Brief 
in Support of Appeal (ML26215A499 (package)).
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    It is so ordered.

    Dated at Rockville, Maryland, this 26th day of August, 2026.

    For the Commission
Jody C. Martin,
Secretary of the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2026-17590 Filed 8-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7590-01-P