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Stages of the Nuclear Fuel Cycle

The nuclear fuel cycle uses uranium in different chemical and physical forms. Stages of this cycle typically include the following:

• mining (extracting from ore) and milling
• conversion to uranium hexafluoride
• enrichment
• fuel fabrication into uranium oxide
• use of the fuel in nuclear power, research, or naval propulsion reactors
• Interim Storage
• Reprocessing (currently not done in the U.S.)
• High-Level Waste

Neither a reprocessing facility nor a Federal waste repository is currently approved (licensed) in the United States, and spent fuel is in interim storage. See High-Level Waste Disposal.

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Tuesday, July 03, 2007