By Angela Hatton
Paducah, KY – The U.S. Department of Energy has approved Paducah's Depleted Uranium Hexafluoride Conversion Facility for operation. A statement issued from the DOE says when it opens, the plant will convert depleted UF-6 into a stable chemical form for either beneficial use or disposal. The facility was completed in 2008 and since then staff have worked to test equipment and train for the conversion process. The project employs around 160 people currently, and work will last an estimated 25 years.