Legislative Proposals Concerning DOE's Uranium Enrichment Program

T-RCED-89-54: Published: Jul 26, 1989. Publicly Released: Jul 26, 1989.

Additional Materials:

Contact:

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

GAO discussed proposed legislation that would restructure the Department of Energy's (DOE) Uranium Enrichment Program as a government corporation. GAO noted that the proposed legislation: (1) would limit recovery of past uranium enrichment costs; (2) would establish a fund to pay for the costs of decommissioning three enriched uranium production facilities; (3) would provide for a voluntary utility ore purchase program; (4) would require the corporation to issue capital stock initially valued at $3 billion to the United States, and authorize it to issue bonds that would not be government obligations; (5) would require the corporation to seek licenses for enrichment facilities; (6) did not state the corporation's responsibility for facility environmental cleanup and maintenance; and (7) would exempt DOE from committing to future cleanup actions. GAO believes that: (1) although the proposed privatization of the enrichment program would allow for better operation as a business entity, the new corporation would still face serious challenges stemming from licensing problems, undefined environmental and decommissioning costs, and increasing competition; and (2) the proposed legislation should further consider the program's appropriate organizational structure, the appropriate amount of cost recovery, and DOE responsibility for helping the domestic uranium mining industry.

Dec 10, 2020

Dec 8, 2020

Nov 19, 2020

Oct 29, 2020

Oct 15, 2020

Jul 24, 2020

Jun 24, 2020

Jun 9, 2020

May 13, 2020

May 12, 2020

Looking for more? Browse all our products here