EXHIBIT (99)

USEC Letterhead


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                  CONTACT:
June 9, 1999                            Elizabeth Stuckle:  301-564-3391
                                        Charles Yulish:     301-564-3391


                 USEC INC. SUSPENDS AVLIS TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
              COMPANY TO PURSUE OTHER ENRICHMENT TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS

          Bethesda, MD - USEC Inc. announced today that it is suspending further
development of its AVLIS enrichment technology. USEC's Board of Directors and
management reached this decision after a comprehensive review of operating and
economic factors.

          In making the announcement, William H. Timbers, Jr., President and
Chief Executive Officer of USEC Inc., said, "We commend Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory (LLNL) for their concerted research and development efforts
on AVLIS. However, we have reexamined the AVLIS technology, performance,
prospects, risks and growing financial requirements as well as the economic
impact of competitive marketplace dynamics. We now have enough data to conclude
that the returns are not sufficient to outweigh the risks and ongoing capital
expenditures necessary to develop and construct an AVLIS plant."

          Timbers stated, "We are committed to ensuring a fully viable and
successful domestic uranium enrichment industry. That commitment is in the
interests of both our nation's security and our shareholders. To meet those
needs, we are actively pursuing options to secure a cost-effective advanced
enrichment technology that meets our criteria and goals. While pursuing other
options, we are also retaining the rights and patents to the AVLIS process and
will remain open to exploring proposals for AVLIS development."

          "We are moving forward with our evaluation of potentially more
economical technology options, including the Silex laser enrichment process and
gas centrifuge technology," Timbers said. "USEC has secured exclusive rights to
explore the commercial viability of the Silex enrichment process. At the same
time, we will continue to prudently invest in improving the efficiency and
longevity of our existing production plants."


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USEC Inc. Suspends AVLIS
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          J. William Bennett, USEC Vice President of Advanced Technology, who
has headed the AVLIS program, elaborated on the findings, saying, "Based on the
results of a recent series of test runs, we have identified continuing issues
that we believe would take at least another year to address satisfactorily and,
once addressed, would increase new plant construction costs beyond the previous
$2.5 billion estimate. Even if these issues were resolved, the resulting
economics, weighed against the market price trends for enrichment, would provide
too low a rate of return on investment for the risk involved."

          The company has begun taking steps to terminate AVLIS efforts with its
contractors, implement workforce reductions and conduct an orderly ramp-down of
AVLIS activities at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California. USEC
is also suspending its AVLIS siting program. USEC has spent about $100 million
on AVLIS since privatization.

          The suspension of AVLIS will result in a non-recurring charge of
approximately $40 million ($25 million or $.25 per share after tax) in the
company's financial results for the year ending June 30, 1999. This charge will
include enhanced employee severance and benefit arrangements, contract
terminations and shutdown activity costs. As all project development costs have
been expensed, there will be no asset write-off.

          Taking into account the AVLIS program suspension, the company
continues to expect that fiscal year 2000 earnings will be similar to fiscal
year 1999 levels of $1.20 per share, excluding a special income tax benefit and
the one-time charge for the AVLIS suspension.

          "USEC has had an excellent team of people and partnering companies
working on AVLIS," said Timbers. "The LLNL team has displayed outstanding
dedication, creativity and responsiveness in its efforts to develop and
commercialize AVLIS.

          "We also appreciate the confidence of those companies who partnered
with us and invested their own funds in developing various AVLIS components. We
want all individuals who have been a part of the AVLIS team to know that we
recognize and appreciate their efforts on this program. While our decision to
suspend AVLIS is driven by clear cost/benefit and long-term considerations, we
are sensitive to the impacts it will have on individuals working on AVLIS, and
these considerations will be recognized in our suspension plan," Timbers
concluded.

          USEC Inc. (NYSE:USU) is the world leader in production and sale of
uranium fuel enrichment services for commercial nuclear power plants. A global
energy company with customers in 14 countries, the company's operations involve
approximately 4,500 people. With headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, the company
operates production plants in Kentucky and Ohio.

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USEC Inc. Suspends AVLIS
Page 3

          This news release includes certain forward-looking information (within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) that
involves risks and uncertainty, including certain assumptions regarding the
future performance of the company. Actual results and trends may differ
materially depending upon a variety of factors, including, without limitation,
market demand for the company's services, pricing trends in the enrichment
market, the availability and cost of electric power, the company's ability to
successfully execute its internal performance plans, the refueling cycles of the
company's customers, and the impact of any government regulation. Additional
information regarding the foregoing factors is contained in the company's public
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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