The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has accepted an application from Eden Radioisotopes LLC to construct a new medical isotope production facility in Lea County, New Mexico. The application, submitted on May 5, proposes a facility designed to produce radioisotopes crucial for medical imaging and cancer treatment.
The planned facility will feature a 1.8-megawatt thermal reactor for irradiating targets and a processing facility to extract and prepare isotopes for medical use. Mike King, NRC Executive Director of Operations, emphasized the agency's commitment, saying, "The NRC’s central role with nuclear technologies is to ensure they are developed safely and responsibly." He added that experts would "carefully review the proposed design to ensure the project meets NRC safety standards."
The NRC's comprehensive review process includes extensive safety analyses, site characteristics, seismology, meteorology, geology, and hydrology. Public participation is also a key component, with the NRC soon publishing a Federal Register notice to open a 30-day period for hearing requests on the application. Even if a construction permit is granted, Eden Radioisotopes would still require a separate NRC operating license before commencing operations. The NRC continues to collaborate with interagency partners to streamline activities and enhance efficiency in regulating civilian nuclear materials.