2001 DOE spending bill passed by House Appropriations Subcommittee
The House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee has reported out the 2001 measure which funds most of the programs at the Department of Energy (DOE).
The total amount provided in the measure, $21.743 billion, is $546 million above the amount appropriated for the current fiscal year. However, it is $951 million below the amount requested by the Clinton Administration. In addition to the DOE, other agencies funded in the measure are the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Appalachian Regional Commission.
Within the Office of Nuclear Energy, the subcommittee provided $231.8 million, a decrease of $76 million from the budget request. This reduction reflects the transfer of $53.4 million for uranium programs to a new appropriations account. For continued R&D programs, the subcommittee provided $22.5 million for NERI; $12 million for the University Reactor Fuel Assistance and Support Program; and $5 million for NEPO. These are the same amounts which were appropriated for the current year.
Within the Isotope program, $15.2 million is provided. This is a reduction of $2 million from the budget request. The reduction is targeted to the Advanced Nuclear Medicine Initiative (ANMI).
For the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF), the subcommittee appropriated $39 million, a reduction of $5 million from the budget request. The budget request for termination costs has been split into two accounts. For operation of ANL-West facilities, $39.150 million is include, the same as the budget request. For EBR-II shutdown and other activities, $34.850 million is included, the same as the budget request.
Other items of interest:
Advanced Radioisotope Power Systems - $29.2 million ($2 million below the request)
Nuclear Waste Disposal (civilian) - $213 million
Nuclear Waste Disposal (defense) - $200 million
The subcommittee provided a total of $413 million for activities at Yucca Mountain. While this is a reduction of $24 million from the budget request, the subcommittee notes it is sufficient to allow the site characterization to proceed.
Fusion Energy - $250 million (an increase of $2.7 million over the budget request)
Accelerator Production of Tritium - $25 million (the budget had not contained a request - the funding is within the total of $177 million for tritium production)
Russian Plutonium Disposition - $40 million (includes $10 million for joint US/Russia GT-MHR program)
Nuclear Regulatory Commission - $481.9 million (the same as the budget request)
The full Appropriations Committee is to consider the recommendations on Tuesday, June 20.
