Proposed Janesville Company Faces Questions From Nuclear Regulatory Commission

A proposal to build a new facility in Janesville that would make radioactive medical isotopes was the subject of a Nuclear Regulatory Commission hearing on Tuesday.

Members of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission asked many questions about the company’s plan. NRC staff are recommending approval of a construction permit for the isotope production facility that SHINE Medical Technologies wants to build near the Janesville airport.

NRC commissioner Kristine Svinicki told the hearing it’s an unusual case for a panel that typically deals with nuclear power plants.

“If any of the SHINE witnesses are fans of ‘Monty Python,’ it’s the opportunity to say, ‘and now for something completely different,’” Svinicki said.

Commissioners quizzed SHINE officials and NRC staff for hours. Many questions centered on SHINE’s proposed method of using non-weapons grade uranium to make isotopes used in medical imaging tests.

If the construction permit is approved, SHINE would still need a federal operating license.