Sep 30 - The Paducah Sun
A bill preventing Russia from flooding the U.S. market with cheap uranium
and protecting the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant is headed to President
Bush.
The Senate on Saturday approved the measure, part of a defense
appropriations continuing resolution for fiscal 2009. The House passed the
legislation Wednesday.
The legislation limits Russia's future market share for commercial-grade
uranium in the U.S. to 20 percent of total electricity demand. Maintaining
existing jobs and capacity will secure energy independence, according to
United Steelworkers International.
About 1,100 people work at the Paducah plant, which enriches uranium for use
in nuclear fuel. Another 200 work at a closed sister plant in Piketon, Ohio,
where USEC is building a replacement gas centrifuge factory.
"Giving the Russians the opportunity to flood our market with cheap uranium
from their vast stores of inventory would likely have overwhelmed our
country's ability to maintain and expand our commercial enrichment
capacity," said Rob Ervin, president USW Local 550 in Paducah. "This
legislation prevents that from happening."
The legislation also prevents bomb-grade uranium from getting into the hands
of terrorists, which enhances the national security. The bill calls for
increasing Russia's market share from 50 to 55 percent if Russia agrees to
continue convert weapons-grade uranium into commercial material. Russia's
conversion agreement expires at the end of 2013.
Joe Walker can be contacted at 575-8656.
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