Record Number of LES Supporters File With NRC HOBBS, N.M., April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- A record number of supporters have signed up to participate in the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) license proceeding on behalf of Louisiana Energy Services (LES) proposed National Enrichment Facility (NEF) in Lea County, New Mexico. Lea County Commission Chairman Harry Teague said that "Some 54 people, including educators, scientists, businessmen, community organizations, minority groups, elected officials and others have taken the time and made the effort to request limited appearance participation in this vital proceeding to show their support for the NEF. "We know," Teague said, "that national anti-nuclear groups are trying to kill this project by intervening in the process, despite the fact that these organizations have never been to Lea County nor talked with the people here about the facility. Our community is strongly in favor of the enrichment plant, many of us have seen exactly how it will be built and operated, and we want it here. We will do all we can, in the NRC process, to make sure our community's strong support for the facility is heard." A limited appearance is one way to participate in the NRC license process. A petition for limited appearance means one can: * Make an oral or written statement of position on the issues but may not otherwise participate in the proceedings. * A limited appearance may be made at any session of the hearing or at any pre-hearing conference subject to such limits and conditions as may be imposed by the NRC Hearing Board. Commissioner Teague said that "the strong showing for limited appearances is a continuation of powerful public support that has been demonstrated to the NRC at their two public meetings in Eunice, New Mexico in the last 6 months." "We are overwhelmed and appreciate the support we have received in Lea County," said Marshall Cohen, LES Vice President of Communications and Government. "Our partnership with Lea County citizens and their participation in the NRC process will be instrumental in the success of our facility." The NEF will provide more than 200 permanent jobs and 400 to 800 short-term construction jobs in Southeast New Mexico. When the license application is approved, the NEF will introduce the world's most advanced uranium enrichment technology into the U.S. and provide an alternative, domestic enrichment supply source to U.S. nuclear energy companies. LES is a partnership of major nuclear energy companies. Partners include Urenco, Westinghouse and U.S. energy companies Duke Power, Entergy and Exelon. DATASOURCE: Louisiana Energy Services CONTACT: Marshall Cohen, +1-505-417-2395, or April Wade, +1-505-440-9441, both of Louisiana Energy Services

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