SOURCE: Paydirt

DATE: September 1998

Cubin asks Gore to protect Uranium jobs

Uranium

Cubin asks Gore to protect Uranium jobs

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - US Rep. Barbara Cubin (R-Wyo.) has called on Vice President Al Gore to halt an administration action that would flood the marketplace with govemment-owned uranium.

The US Department of Energy is now in the process of transferring ownership of substantial inventories of uranium to US Enrichment Corporation.

The sale of government-accumulated uranium to US Enrichment forced a Wyoming firm to suspended operations and put 45 Wyoming miners out of work, Cubin said.

Last month, Riverton-based US Energy Corporation announced its decision to suspend operations at the Jackpot mine near Jeffrey City. Company officials pointed specifically to the privatization and transfer deal, which they said would drive down uranium prices.

US Enrichment's plans through 2005 call for the sale of more uranium than currently being produced in the United States.

Mrs. Cubin said she has urged Gore to take steps to protect Wyoming, the nation's leading uranium producer.

"Putting Wyoming workers out of work and US businesses out of business by selling govemment assets is unconscionable and is not the role the federal government should play in our marketplace," she said. "I will do what I can to prevent any further erosion of uranium production and job losses in the state of Wyoming."