The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the radioisotope production facility that Northwest Medical Isotopes plans to build in Columbia, Mo.
Northwest has submitted construction application to the NRC to build a $70 million, privately funded facility at the Discovery Ridge research park at the University of Missouri Research Reactor. The company intends to submit its operating license application in early 2017, with the hope of starting commercial production of molybendum-99 in late 2018. The isotope decays into technetium-99m, which is used in imaging procedures for cancer, heart disease, and bone and kidney disease. The Western Hemisphere no longer has a mo-99 supplier, as Canada stopped producing the isotope at National Research Universal reactor this fall. The government has said the facility is, however, available for emergency supply.
Northwest is competing with SHINE Medical Technologies and Coqui RadioPharmaceuticals Corp, among others, in a race to become the first American commercial producers of mo-99 in more than 25 years.
The EIS is required under the National Environmental Policy Act, and analyzes impacts on humans and the environment. The NRC has scheduled a public meeting to discuss the draft EIS at 6 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Holiday Inn East-Columbia, 915 Port Way, Columbia, Mo.
