The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) has thrown its support behind legislation that would encourage manufacturing of the radioisotope molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) in the U.S.
The American Medical Isotopes Production Act of 2011 (HR 3276) would have Mo-99 suppliers worldwide use low-enriched uranium, rather than highly enriched uranium, with the goal of developing a reliable supply of Mo-99 for the U.S.
In testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on February 1, Parrish Staples, NNSA's European and African threat reduction director, said the agency had "significant" reservations about a provision in the bill calling for the Department of Energy to lease and take back low-enriched uranium for medical isotope production.
However, he added that the Department of Energy and NNSA believe that this legislation, overall, "will be helpful in providing public visibility to critical nonproliferation goals and to equally critical medical needs."
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