Uses for Enriched and Depleted Uranium

Fate of U and Depleted UF₆

Enriched uranium is used for the defense needs of the United States and in making fuel for commercial light water nuclear power reactors. Highly enriched uranium, typically used for military purposes, has not been produced in the United States since 1992.

Depleted UF₆ has had only limited uses, and since gaseous diffusion was initiated in the 1940s, large quantities of depleted UF₆ has accumulated at the gaseous diffusion plants where it was created.

Long-term management of this depleted UF₆ is being investigated under the U.S. Department of Energy's Depleted UF₆ Management Program. The Depleted UF₆ PEIS was prepared as part of this effort.