Portman issues statement on administration's broken promise to the Piketon community
On Friday, U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio) released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announcing that it will end the American Centrifuge Test Demonstration and Operation contract at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon, Ohio:
“I am stunned by today's announcement by the Administration that they are pulling the plug on our country's uranium enrichment project. This news is a major blow to the Piketon community and southeast Ohio and yet another broken promise by this Administration.
“Families are once again being upended by the Administration's failed promises to the community and its inability to manage projects at the Piketon site. Congress has consistently signaled strong support for ACP and the irreplaceable role it plays in our national security and economic security.
“I am extremely disappointed and I am already in dialogue with local stakeholders, including USW Local 689, the contractors involved, local elected officials, and my congressional colleagues about the next steps forward. I have also personally contacted the Department of Energy to express my surprise and deep disappointment and have urged them to reconsider this irresponsible decision to shut down our one source of enrichment needed for our nuclear arsenal, our nuclear navy, private sector nuclear power fuel needs, and nuclear nonproliferation efforts.
“I find it particularly troubling that the same month the Administration, against the will of the U.S. Congress and the American people, is pushing through its Iran deal that recognizes Iran's right to enrich, conduct research, and maintain access to over 6,000 centrifuges, it is also shutting down our only American-owned enrichment capability.
“Should our efforts fail to convince the Administration to reverse its position, I stand ready to work with local officials to help the hundreds of workers in Piketon who will have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.”