Portman announces funding bill includes cleanup of Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant
Lead Summary
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U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) has announced that the final FY 2020 funding bill released today includes $367 million for the cleanup of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon as well as $51 million for the onsite disposal cell, which is $10 million above FY 2019 enacted levels.
This funding is needed to maintain current employment levels and continue the decontamination and decommissioning work at the Portsmouth site, which is critical for redevelopment, jobs, and economic development in the region. The site is now fully funded through appropriations after the Department of Energy suspended its barter program in FY 2019, which provides more funding certainty for the site.
The final FY 2020 funding bill also includes $40 million as part of a three-year demonstration project to produce a cascade of 16 centrifuges at the former American Centrifuge Project in Piketon to demonstrate the production of high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU). HALEU can be the fuel source for advanced nuclear reactors, technology that can be used to improve our nation’s energy security. A domestic enrichment capability is also needed for national security purposes.
Portman issued the following statement:
“The cleanup and redevelopment of this plant is critical for jobs, economic development, and the future of southern Ohio, and this funding is another milestone in the effort to get the site cleaned up and ready for redevelopment. I’m committed to ensuring there are sufficient resources for the cleanup work at Portsmouth now and in the future. I am also pleased that the final bill includes funding for the centrifuge demonstration project, which this administration supports and agrees is necessary for our national security. I will continue to work with my colleagues and the administration to ensure this site gets cleaned up and ready for redevelopment.”
Portman has been a leader in the decontamination and decommissioning efforts at the former gaseous diffusion plant at the Piketon site. He has consistently worked to secure funding needed to maintain current employment levels to clean up at the site. In February 2018, Portman visited the plan and met with key stakeholders — including Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), the U.S. Department of Energy, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative, the Site Specific Advisory Board, and local and state elected officials — to discuss the future of cleanup activities at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. During the meeting, Senator Portman announced that he had secured a commitment from DOE to clean up the existing landfills and plumes at the plant.
In addition, in January Portman announced U.S. Department of Energy’s intent to invest $115 million over the next three years, potentially resulting in 60 initial jobs, to produce a cascade of 16 centrifuges at the former American Centrifuge Project in Piketon to demonstrate the production of high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU). Under questioning from Portman last year, Secretary Perry – who toured the site with Portman in 2017 – committed to re-evaluating the Obama administration’s decision to end the domestic uranium enrichment demonstration program because having domestic enrichment capabilities would provide stability and security to our country. The demonstration program – known as the American Centrifuge Plant – operated at Piketon until it was disbanded by the Obama administration in 2015.
This funding is needed to maintain current employment levels and continue the decontamination and decommissioning work at the Portsmouth site, which is critical for redevelopment, jobs, and economic development in the region. The site is now fully funded through appropriations after the Department of Energy suspended its barter program in FY 2019, which provides more funding certainty for the site.
The final FY 2020 funding bill also includes $40 million as part of a three-year demonstration project to produce a cascade of 16 centrifuges at the former American Centrifuge Project in Piketon to demonstrate the production of high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU). HALEU can be the fuel source for advanced nuclear reactors, technology that can be used to improve our nation’s energy security. A domestic enrichment capability is also needed for national security purposes.
Portman issued the following statement:
“The cleanup and redevelopment of this plant is critical for jobs, economic development, and the future of southern Ohio, and this funding is another milestone in the effort to get the site cleaned up and ready for redevelopment. I’m committed to ensuring there are sufficient resources for the cleanup work at Portsmouth now and in the future. I am also pleased that the final bill includes funding for the centrifuge demonstration project, which this administration supports and agrees is necessary for our national security. I will continue to work with my colleagues and the administration to ensure this site gets cleaned up and ready for redevelopment.”
Portman has been a leader in the decontamination and decommissioning efforts at the former gaseous diffusion plant at the Piketon site. He has consistently worked to secure funding needed to maintain current employment levels to clean up at the site. In February 2018, Portman visited the plan and met with key stakeholders — including Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), the U.S. Department of Energy, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative, the Site Specific Advisory Board, and local and state elected officials — to discuss the future of cleanup activities at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. During the meeting, Senator Portman announced that he had secured a commitment from DOE to clean up the existing landfills and plumes at the plant.
In addition, in January Portman announced U.S. Department of Energy’s intent to invest $115 million over the next three years, potentially resulting in 60 initial jobs, to produce a cascade of 16 centrifuges at the former American Centrifuge Project in Piketon to demonstrate the production of high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU). Under questioning from Portman last year, Secretary Perry – who toured the site with Portman in 2017 – committed to re-evaluating the Obama administration’s decision to end the domestic uranium enrichment demonstration program because having domestic enrichment capabilities would provide stability and security to our country. The demonstration program – known as the American Centrifuge Plant – operated at Piketon until it was disbanded by the Obama administration in 2015.