By Chad Lampe
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkms/local-wkms-972841.mp3
Paducah, KY – Bills in both chambers of the U.S. Congress filed by Representative Ed Whitfield and Senators McConnell and Paul, hope to extend the life of Paducah's Gaseous Diffusion plant. Which provides some 1200 jobs to the region. The bill would allow the facility to begin a two-year pilot program re-enriching depleted uranium, or tails. The plant currently houses 40,000 cylinders of the material. On the Q and A this week Chad Lampe speaks with Plant General Manager, Steve Penrod about the bill and the plant's uncertain future.
The bill to allow the re-enrichment of uranium tails at the Paducah Plant is set to be heard in a house subcommittee Monday, June 13, 2011.