WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), released the following statement on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's (NRC) decision to grant authority over uranium recovery activities to the state of Wyoming.
Earlier today, Wyoming Governor Matt Mead and NRC Chairman Kristine Svinicki signed the agreement at a ceremony in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Wyoming applied for NRC Agreement State status for the purposes of licensing and regulating uranium recovery activities on Nov. 14, 2017. The agreement will go into effect on Sept. 30, 2018.
“This agreement is good news for Wyoming's uranium producers," said Barrasso. “Wyoming is fully capable of overseeing uranium recovery activities in the state. Wyoming will be able to provide cost-effective and timely decisions on project proposals. I want to congratulate Governor Mead and his team for securing this agreement and thank Chairman Svinicki for getting this done promptly."
Background Information:
The EPW Committee has oversight of the NRC. As chairman of the EPW Committee, Barrasso has championed Wyoming's efforts to become a NRC Agreement State.
On March 21, 2018, during a committee oversight hearing of the NRC, Barrasso pressed Svinicki on the importance of reaching this agreement by Sept. 30, 2018.
On Dec. 13, 2017, during a committee oversight hearing of the NRC, Barrasso pressed Svinicki on the importance of reaching this agreement by Sept. 30, 2018.
On June 13, 2017, at a committee nomination hearing , Barrasso asked Svinicki and other NRC commissioner nominees to commit to giving Wyoming's application fair and timely consideration.
