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“SELF-ENRICHMENT FROM NUCLEAR POWER PLANT PRIVATIZATION” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H6566 on July 19, 2000.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
SELF-ENRICHMENT FROM NUCLEAR POWER PLANT PRIVATIZATION
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Strickland) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. STRICKLAND. Mr. Speaker, just 2 weeks ago, the United States Enrichment Corporation made the devastating decision to close its uranium enrichment facility in Piketon, Ohio, where nearly 2,000 dedicated Americans work. This is devastating not only to my community and to my region of Ohio but it is devastating, I believe, to this country. Some 23 percent of all of the electricity that is generated in our country is generated through nuclear power plants. Nearly all of that material that is necessary to provide the fuel for these nuclear power plants comes from two sites, in Paducah, Kentucky, and in Piketon, Ohio.
Until 2 years ago, the industry which produced this vital fuel for our Nation was under the ownership and control of the United States Government. We made the decision to privatize this vital industry. We did so with the hope and belief that the industry would thrive and that the private company would keep its obligations to this Nation and continue to operate the two plants through the year 2004. Sadly, the leadership of this new private company has broken faith with our government and with the American people, and they have announced that they are closing the Piketon plant.
Mr. Speaker, I want to be very clear. I am upset about this because of its immediate impact upon my district and upon the men and women who work in the facility in my district. But I am equally concerned because this decision can have a terribly adverse effect upon this Nation in terms of our national security and in terms of our energy security.
I am convinced that the management of this company cares for neither but simply is determined to do whatever it can to enrich itself, and the American people and the people who work in these plants can be damned.
That is why I am very, very pleased that the gentleman from Virginia
(Mr. Bliley), who is the chairman of the Committee on Commerce, has recently written the CEO of this private company, Mr. Nick Timbers, a letter in which he expresses concern and asks certain questions. I would like to share a couple of paragraphs from Chairman Bliley's letter to Mr. Nick Timbers. He says:
``Dear Mr. Timbers:
``As you know, the Commerce Committee is continuing its review of USEC privatization and its impact on our national security and the domestic uranium industry. I am writing to you with respect to recent troubling statements you have made on this subject and to obtain additional documents and information related to USEC privatization.''
Then Mr. Bliley continues:
``Quoting the Wall Street Journal editorial dated Thursday, June 28, 2000, you indicated that USEC's recent decision to close the Department of Energy's Portsmouth gaseous diffusion plant was made in response to congressional intent in privatization legislation. Specifically, you state that USEC's decision to close the Portsmouth plant was, quote, the reason Congress privatized the company, close quote.''
Then Mr. Bliley says:
``I can assure you that this is not the case. A single operating gaseous diffusion plant with no credible plan for a succeeding enrichment technology is not what Congress intended for the privatized company.''
My understanding is that we will have hearings this fall, and we will delve into the matters surrounding the privatization of this company. I think Mr. Timbers has some explaining to do, and I think those responsible for the decisions that led to privatization within this administration have some explaining to do. I think there was a terrible, unacceptable, conflict of interest that existed when Mr. Timbers was given the authority to advise and to consult and to give direction as to how this company would be privatized because the decisions that he made resulted in his self-enrichment. This man, who was making as a government employee approximately $350,000, ended up with a salary of some $2.48 million.
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