Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is holding up confirmation of a slate of Department of Energy nominees over the lack of DOE action on re-enriching a portion of its inventory of depleted uranium hexafluoride tails. Yesterday, Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) asked for unanimous consent to confirm nominees for five senior DOE positions—Under Secretary of Energy, Assistant Secretary of Energy for Fossil Energy, Assistant Secretary of Energy for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, General Counsel and Director of the Office of Minority Economic Impact.
Paul blocked the move, though, criticizing DOE for not moving forward with a tails re-enrichment program, which USEC has said is necessary to help keep the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Enrichment Plant in Kentucky in operation. Following Paul’s objection, Bingaman said he would help him get a response from DOE on the issue. Paul, along with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) are seeking a meeting with Secretary of Energy Steven Chu before the end of the month to discuss the future of the Paducah plant.
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