NRC ISSUES CONFIRMATORY ORDER TO HONEYWELL 

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a Confirmatory Order to Honeywell 

International, Inc., outlining actions the company must take before it can resume its uranium 

conversion operations at the Honeywell Metropolis Works facility.

Honeywell Metropolis Works takes milled uranium and converts it into uranium 

hexafluoride gas which is then enriched at other facilities to make fuel for commercial power 

reactors. The Metropolis, Ill., facility has been shut down since May 9.

The plant will not be allowed to resume operations until the provisions outlined in the 

Confirmatory Order are satisfied. 

“These measures ensure the continued safety of the people who work at Honeywell as 

well as those who live nearby,” said Victor McCree, the NRC’s Region II Administrator. “Their 

safety has been and will continue to be our primary objective.”

During an inspection in May that examined how the facility would fare in a major 

earthquake or a tornado, the NRC concluded that such an event could result in a higher risk to 

the public than originally assumed. The inspection identified that process equipment in the 

facility lacks seismic restraints, support and bracing that would assure integrity during a 

significant seismic or wind event. Specifically, the amount of uranium hexafluoride that could be 

released into the environment should the process equipment be damaged by such an event could 

be significantly larger than assumed in the facility’s Emergency Response Plan. The material 

that could be released poses more of a chemical hazard than a radiation hazard.

There is no current safety concern at the facility since it is shut down. In a shutdown 

configuration, a seismic event or a tornado would not result in a significant release of material.

The NRC identified two apparent violations associated with the inspection findings. 

Honeywell’s Emergency Response Plan, submitted in May 2005, failed to identify accident 

sequences related to credible seismic and tornado events. In addition, the plant’s Integrated 

Safety Analysis Summary erroneously states that “the plant is designed to withstand [significant] 

earthquake[s] with no safety implications.”

NRC NEWS

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

Office of Public Affairs, Region II

245 Peachtree Center Ave., NE, Suite 1200

Atlanta, GA 30303-1257

Site: www.nrc.gov

Blog: http://public-blog.nrc-gateway.gov

No: II-12-061

CONTACT: Roger Hannah (404) 997-4417

 Joey Ledford (404) 997-4416 

 October 16, 2012 

E-mail: OPA2.Resource@nrc.gov
Due, in part, to Honeywell’s cooperation and stated commitment to protect workers and 

public safety, the NRC decided to issue a Confirmatory Order in lieu of a Notice of Violation 

and consideration of civil penalties.

The company is required to revise its Emergency Response Plan and its Integrated Safety 

Analysis, ensuring that both define and provide the safety bases for its improved seismic and 

wind design. The facility is required to implement modifications Honeywell proposed as 

necessary to ensure the facility can safely withstand such events. The design and installation of 

the modifications are subject to NRC inspections.

A copy of the Confirmatory Order will be available on the NRC website at

adams.nrc.gov/wba by using the number ML12289A800 or by contacting the Region II Office of 

Public Affairs.

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