$367 million dollars earmarked for cleanup at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon has been included in the final Federal 2020 funding bill.
An addition $51 million has also been budgeted for the onsite disposal cell. That’s an increase of $10 million above the 2019 levels.
The money will be used to maintain employment levels and continue to decontaminate the site to make it ready for potential redevelopment.
An additional $40 million dollars will also fund a demonstration project to produce a cascade of 16 centrifuges intended to demonstrate the production of high assay low enriched uranium to be used as a fuel source in advanced nuclear reactors.
Proponents say the production of HALEU will improve our energy independence and is also important for national security purposes.
Ohio Senator Rob Portman said, “The cleanup and redevelopment of this plant is critical for jobs, economic development, and the future of Southern Ohio, and this funding is another milestone in the effort to get the site cleaned up and ready for redevelopment.”
Scioto County Commissioners agreed, saying the funding provided another year of stability for workers at the Piketon plant. “Working with our regional partners, we continue to lobby for appropriations to fund the clean-up of this site. This was a major part of our discussions during our visit on Dec 4th. We will continue to push for the clean-up and full funding for the re-development of this site in hopes of bringing more jobs to our area.”
So, when does the $367 Million dollars for Piketon get sent? The Fiscal year of 2020 runs from October 1st, 2019, through September 30th, 2020.
