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Nuclear Regulatory Commission Authorizes Honeywell Plant To Reopen

Honeywell Plant in Metropolis, Ill.
file photo
Honeywell Plant in Metropolis, Ill.

Honeywell's Metropolis plant can resume full operations after receiving the go ahead from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The plant which converts uranium or to uranium-hexafluoride closed last year after failing to meet standards for natural disaster preparedness. 228 employees had been without work while the plant addressed the infrastructure needs. 

NRC Public Affairs Officer Roger Hannah said the commission conducted an independent inspection before allowing the plant to begin production.

“In this particular case, we went in and we looked at parts of their plant that needed to be enhanced to make sure it could meet seismic requirements and also could withstand damage from tornadoes and severe storms," said Hannah. "They made some of those changes and once they had completed those enhancements we inspected those as well to make sure they met the requirements as well.”

Hannah said the NRC authorized front-end operations at the plant last month because those processes do not involve materials that are chemically volatile.

Honeywell has not yet announced when full operations will continue.

Rob Canning is a native of Murray, KY, a 2015 TV Production grad of Murray State. At MSU, he served as team captain of the Murray State Rowing Club. Rob's goal is to become a screenwriter, film director or producer and looks to the likes of Quentin Tarantino and Guy Ritchie for inspiration. He appreciates good music, mainly favoring British rock n' roll, and approves of anything with Jack White's name on it. When not studying, rowing or writing, Rob enjoys spending his free time with a book or guitar.
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