The United State's Enrichment Corporation is ending uranium enrichment at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant saying that there were not enough taxpayer benefits to extend enrichment.
USEC has operated the DOE's Paducah Gaseous Diffusion plant since July 1993 and will stop enriching uranium at the end of May. USEC expects to begin reducing the plant’s workforce in the coming months. However, the corporation plans to continue managing inventory and meeting customer orders in addition to transitioning the plant back to the DOE into 2014.
U.S. Sens. Mitch McConnell, Rand Paul and U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield issued a statement today saying they are disappointed that the DOE is not extending operations at the uranium enrichment plant and that they are working to ensure the DOE cleans up the site and determines a long-term solution to use the facility and its assets.
The lawmakers believe the DOE has proposals that could create jobs at the plant. They expect the DOE to make a decision quickly on those proposals.
Whitfield, Paul and McConnell have requested a meeting with Secretary of Energy to discuss the matter.
