Regulators OK More Time to Build Nuke Fuel Plant

SAVANNAH RIVER SITE, S.C. (AP) _ Federal regulators have granted a 10-year extension to the company building a South Carolina facility where spent nuclear weapons materials will be turned into commercial nuclear reactor fuel. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said last week it had granted the request by Shaw Areva MOX Services. In May, the company asked for more time to build the mixed-oxide fuel fabrication facility. The project is part of an agreement with Russia to turn weapons-grade plutonium into commercial nuclear reactor fuel. Construction began in 2007, but the project is billions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule. The current construction permit expires next year. The cost overruns and delays have led the Obama administration to slash funding and propose shutting down construction to search for cheaper alternatives.