[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 85 (Thursday, June 25, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1226-E1227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONCERNS FOR THE ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE 
                                 REPORT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ED WHITFIELD

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 24, 1998

  Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, two days ago the full House passed the FY 
1999 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill. I was proud to 
lend my support to that bill, although there are several important 
issues affecting my District that I would like to bring to the 
attention of my House colleagues.
  I represent the workers at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant--one 
of two plants in America that originally enriched uranium for our 
country's nuclear weapons production program. Today, that uranium is 
sold to commercial nuclear power companies.
  The environmental cleanup associated with the enrichment process is 
financed by the Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund. The President 
requested $277 million for the D&D fund. The Senate bill includes $197 
million while the House bill provides $225 million.
  The federal government is responsible for this cleanup, Mr. Speaker, 
and further delays will result in higher long-term costs. It is my hope 
that the House and Senate conferees will agree to fund the D&D program 
at the higher House-approved funding level.
  Another issue of special importance to me was raised by my colleague 
in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, during a floor discussion with Senator 
Pete Domenici, Chairman of the Energy and Water Development 
Appropriations Subcommittee.
  The United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) currently manages the 
two uranium enrichment plants in Paducah, Kentucky and Portsmouth, 
Ohio. Legislation has already passed the Congress to privatize USEC and 
final privatization action is imminent. Once that Corporation is 
privatized, I have been advised that between 600 to 1,700 jobs will be 
lost at the two plants.
  I have also been told that USEC has accrued approximately $400 
million on its books for the purpose of cleaning up the uranium waste 
generated by the enrichment process since USEC took over operation of 
the plants from the Department of Energy in 1993. However, this money 
only remains available until USEC is privatized and, at that point, the 
monies would be transferred to the Treasury.
  I oppose returning those funds to the Treasury when they were 
originally earmarked for cleanup of USEC's uranium waste at both of the 
gaseous diffusion plants.
  It would be my hope that my colleagues on the Energy and Water 
Development Appropriations Subcommittee will work with me to ensure 
that the money earmarked for the purpose of cleaning up the uranium 
tails produced by USEC will continue to be dedicated for these purposes 
and help mitigate job losses at these plants.

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