WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today U.S. Representatives Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Rubén Hinojosa (D-TX) introduced the Excess Uranium Transparency and Accountability Act in the House. This bipartisan bill would for the first time ever require federal uranium transfers to go through full rulemaking, including public notice and comment, as well as require the data used in these rulemakings to adhere to federal data quality standards. The bill would also cap the amount of excess uranium the Secretary of Energy could transfer each year at 2,100 metric tons, a level consistent with the Secretary’s recent decision to reign in the previously unchecked transfers. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Ed Markey (D-MA) and others introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
In recent years, the Department of Energy has flooded the uranium market with excess federal uranium, driving down the price of uranium and flouting the law’s requirement that transfers do not adversely impact the American uranium industry. The bill responds to numerous flaws in the uranium program identified by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which found that federal uranium sales lack transparency, are highly inefficient, and have generated returns for the taxpayer far lower than their market potential.
“Light disinfects and this bipartisan bill seeks to shine disinfecting light on DOE uranium transfers by promoting both transparency and accountability,” – Rep. Lummis (R) – Wyoming
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“Past DOE transfers have hurt uranium producers and cost taxpayers an estimated $195 million in potential additional revenue on excess uranium sales. This act, however, would establish a robust public process to help ensure that future transfers maximize returns for taxpayers on these resources. It would also codify Secretary Moniz’s most recent cap on uranium transfers, preventing DOE from disrupting uranium markets in the meantime. Past unchecked federal uranium sales have given no regard to their market impacts, wreaking havoc on the men and women of Wyoming’s uranium industry who are working to alleviate our almost 90 percent dependence on foreign uranium for American electricity needs.”
“It is a simple question of fairness,” said Rep. Hinojosa. “Insisting on transparency and accountability in regards to how the DOE manages federal excess uranium inventory is not a controversial position to take. It is a responsible one. The DOE has consistently failed to manage its excess uranium inventory, violating not only its own policy, but federal law. I believe this legislation is long overdue.”
For the bill text please click here:
Additional House co-sponsors:
Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX)
Henry Cuellar (D-TX)
– From a press release
