Barrasso Expresses Grave Concern Over Former DOE Official Poneman's Move to Uranium Companies

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) sent a letter to Energy Secretary Moniz expressing serious concern about the recent announcements that Daniel Poneman, former Deputy Secretary of Energy, will join Centrus Energy Corp., formerly known as USEC Inc., as President and Chief Executive Officer, and the Traxys Group as a member of its Board of Directors. Under Mr. Poneman's tenure, the Department of Energy (DOE) gave away significant quantities of publicly-owned uranium for the benefit of USEC.

In 2014, the Government Accountability Office found that DOE's uranium transfers involving USEC violated federal law on numerous occasions. In the letter, Barrasso calls on Secretary Moniz to conduct a rulemaking, with full notice and public comment, before authorizing all future sales or transfers of publicly-owned uranium. Mr. Poneman served as the Deputy Secretary of Energy from May 18, 2009 to October 3, 2014.

"DOE has long had an improper relationship with USEC. Mr. Poneman's appointment as President and CEO only promises to make that record worse. His appointment to the Board of Directors of the Traxys Group, the sales agent for the current recipient of publicly-owned uranium, is also troubling. For these reasons, I ask that you conduct a rulemaking, with full notice and public comment, before authorizing all future sales or transfers of uranium. Only by adhering to the transparency and accountability requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act will DOE be able to restore confidence in its management of publicly-owned uranium," Barrasso wrote.

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