Radioactive Venting Approved: New Piketon Air Permit Reveals "Zero" State Monitoring
Ohio EPA renews Centrus air permit, authorizing uranium-related emissions while deferring all active oversight to federal self-reporting.
Ohio environmental regulators have finalized a major air permit renewal for the Centrus uranium enrichment facility, codifying the plant’s legal authority to vent radioactive gases into the southern Ohio atmosphere under federal oversight that some local skeptics find insufficient.
The permit, issued by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to American Centrifuge Operating, LLC, takes effect Jan. 28, 2026. While the document outlines safety thresholds, it also reveals a lack of specific operational restrictions and direct state-level monitoring for key units involved in radioactive venting.
According to the permit, the facility—a “Major Source” of air pollution—is authorized to release radionuclides and hazardous chemical compounds like uranium hexafluoride (UF6). The permit relies on federal standards to determine what constitutes a “safe” level of exposure for the surrounding community.
The following are direct quotes from the permit renewal:
1. The 10 mrem/yr Safety Limit
Found in the Facility-Wide Terms and Conditions (Section B) under the “Applicable Emissions Limitations and/or Control Requirements” section:
“Emissions of radionuclides, including radon-222 and radon-220, to the ambient air from the facility shall not exceed those amounts that would cause any member of the public to receive in any year an effective dose equivalent of 10 mrem/yr.”
2. The Type of Emissions (Uranium Hexafluoride)
Found in the Emissions Unit Terms and Conditions for the vacuum system (Unit P558):
“Small emissions of uranium hexafluoride (UF6) occur when a centrifuge is opened for maintenance.”
Investigation: “None” for Monitoring and Restrictions
Despite the high stakes of radioactive venting, an examination of the permit’s technical sections reveals a hands-off approach to the primary venting system (Unit P558). For this specific unit—which manages the “North Purge Vacuum and Evacuation Vacuum” systems—the permit explicitly lists:
Operational Restrictions: “None“.
Monitoring and/or Recordkeeping Requirements: “None“.
Instead of constant state oversight or local physical inspections, the permit requires the facility to submit an “annual compliance report” to the Ohio EPA. This report is merely a copy of what the company already provides to the federal U.S. EPA under 40 CFR Part 61, Subpart H.
The permit grants Centrus the authorization to operate through Jan. 28, 2031, effectively allowing the facility to self-report its radioactive output based on federal protocols for the next five years.
Permit Link: Full Permit