Rep. Brad Wenstrup
U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) led a bipartisan letter from members of Ohio’s congressional delegation that urged Energy Secretary Rick Perry to visit the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant site in Piketon, Ohio, to showcase the cleanup operations and provide insights into the challenges facing U.S. domestic uranium enrichment.
The letter was signed by Ohio Republican U.S. Reps. Steve Chabot, Steve Stivers, David Joyce, Michael Turner, and Bill Johnson, along with Democratic U.S. Reps. Marcy Kaptur and Tim Ryan.
The letter highlights the complex decontamination and decommissioning work being done at the plant, which ceased enriching uranium in 2001.
“… The people of southern Ohio made great sacrifices to support this mission during the Cold War through their work at, and support of, the Piketon site, and they continue making those sacrifices today through (Department of Energy’s) cleanup and enrichment operations on site,” the letter states.
“The decontamination and demobilization of the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant is massive in scope and complexity, employing nearly 2,000 skilled workers who labor ceaselessly through our highly uncertain fiscal environment. Meanwhile, DOE is assessing options for developing a domestic uranium enrichment capability, including advanced centrifuge technology demonstrated at Piketon.”
During Senate confirmation hearings, Perry committed to visiting the Piketon plant. Wenstrup’s letter highlighted the importance of Perry visiting the plant to inform his future decisions.