Portman calls on DOE to work for Piketon funding
U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) has called on Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Ernest Moniz to work with Senate and House Appropriators to request the necessary funding in the upcoming Continuing Resolution to prevent the layoff of up to 700 employees working on the cleanup of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon.
In a letter to Secretary Moniz, Portman urged the Administration to fulfill its 2010 commitment for an accelerated cleanup of the site that completes the project by 2024.
The Administration’s accelerated cleanup plan had called for reducing the completion date by 20 years, improving the site’s environmental footprint, preparing it for re-industrialization, and saving $5.9 billion in taxpayer dollars.
“In my discussions on the issue with the Senate Appropriators last month, I was told that they have not received an anomaly request from DOE for additional funding for the cleanup work at Piketon,” Portman wrote.
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“I strongly encourage your office to reach out the Appropriations Committees immediately to make such a request. Please let me know if there is anything further I can do to assist these efforts.”
Last week, Portman brought DOE Acting Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management Mark Whitney and Senior Advisor to Secretary Moniz David Foster to the facility in Piketon.
Portman urged the Administration to move forward with efforts to restore the $110 million funding shortfall for the cleanup work at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant and the future for re-industrialization of the site. Portman also met with the Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative (SODI) board, including local elected officials, business leaders and union representatives.
Portman has been supporting the re-industrialization of the Piketon site since his time serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.