http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/articles/2010/11/28/news/today/news04.txt

U.S. gives OK for Russian agency to take control of uranium mines in Wyoming

By NEWS RECORD STAFF
Published: Saturday, November 27, 2010 11:27 PM MST

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved the transfer of a Canadian uranium company with soon-to-open uranium mines in the Powder River Basin to a company controlled by the Russian governmen.

But it also said that said none of the uranium from the Wyoming mines will leave the United States.

The controlling interest in Uranium One America likely will be in the hands of the Russian uranium company AtomRedMetZoloto, commonly known as ARMZ, by the end of the year.

As part of the purchase, ARMZ will take control of the Irigaray plant in Johnson County and the Christensen and Moore Ranch processing facilities in Campbell County.

The sale of Uranium One to ARMZ has caused some controversy because the Russian company is controlled by Rosatom, the Russian Federation’s state nuclear agency.

The Russian agency has provided Iran with uranium in the past.

In October, four senior House Republicans, none of whom are from Wyoming, sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to block the sale because they thought the uranium could end up making its way out of the country.

In response to the letter, Wyoming’s congressional delegation said they were watching the sale closely and wanted to make sure there was no potential for Wyoming uranium to end up in Iran.

Neither Uranium One nor ARMZ holds an NRC export license, so no uranium produced at the facilities can be exported, according to NRC documents.

While the uranium will be used domestically and Uranium One America will remain the licensee of the Wyoming properties, the Russian agency will have oversight.

The NRC paperwork states that the transfer means the Russian president and the government of the Russian Federation have the power to direct corporate policy and therefore direct activities under the NRC license and license applications for the Wyoming facilities.