The industry group Uranium Producers of America is raising concern after recently released documents show that the Department of Energy requested revisions to an independent report on the potential impact of DOE’s uranium transfers on the domestic uranium market. The Department has commissioned Energy Resources International to produce several reports in recent years on the topic. While previous reports found that DOE’s proposed transfers would have “no adverse material impact” on the industry, in a draft 2014 report ERI said it could “no longer make such a definitive statement” after DOE increased its transfers. DOE said in comments to the draft report that only the Secretary of Energy can make a determination on the material impact, which was the wording used in the final version of ERI’s analysis, according to documents released last week by the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on the Interior.
UPA is taking issue with the changes proposed by DOE. “I’m shocked but not surprised DOE pushed to change an independent analysis that didn’t support the Department’s conclusions. DOE relied on ERI’s expertise only as long as it suited its purpose,” former UPA President Scott Melbye or the Uranium Energy Corporation said in a release. “We welcome the opportunity to work with the Department on a management plant to limit the impact of transfers on our industry. In 2008, we came to the table to work out a consensus-based management plan that put an annual cap on transfers. I’ve talked to Secretary Moniz about bringing the stakeholders back to the table, and we are hopeful DOE will take that step before it finalizes the next Determination.”
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