The Future of DOE's Uranium Enrichment Program

T-RCED-88-59: Published: Aug 10, 1988. Publicly Released: Aug 10, 1988.

Additional Materials:

Contact:

Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
youngc1@gao.gov

GAO discussed three legislative proposals for restructuring the Department of Energy's Uranium Enrichment Program. GAO noted that program problems included: (1) unused multibillion-dollar payments for electricity; (2) uranium market uncertainties; (3) aging facilities; and (4) billions of dollars in unrecovered costs. GAO also noted that two of the legislative proposals would: (1) restructure the program as a government corporation; (2) require the corporation to issue capital stock; (3) require the corporation to repay $364 million within 20 years; (4) authorize the corporation to borrow up to $2.5 billion from the private sector; (5) establish a decontamination and decommissioning fund for the corporation's property; and (6) exempt the corporation from Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) licensing requirements. In addition, GAO noted that the third legislative proposal was similar to the other two, although it would: (1) establish a uranium revitalization fund from state and mine owner contributions and utility fees; (2) require NRC to issue its operating license within 4 years; and (3) not impose a fee on utilities that used foreign ore. GAO believes that, although the proposals address some of the program's problems, Congress needs to give more consideration to repayment goals, decommissioning costs, the uranium stockpile, and corporate structure.

Oct 15, 2020

Jul 24, 2020

Jun 24, 2020

Jun 9, 2020

May 13, 2020

May 12, 2020

Apr 29, 2020

  • energy icon, source: Art Explosion

    Priority Open Recommendations:

    Department of Energy
    GAO-20-285PR: Published: Apr 22, 2020. Publicly Released: Apr 29, 2020.

Apr 17, 2020

Mar 11, 2020

Mar 4, 2020

Looking for more? Browse all our products here