DOE 2001 spending bill approved
The Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee has reported out the 2001 spending measure. Within Title III of the measure, which funds Department of Energy (DOE) accounts, the subcommittee, headed by Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) treated nuclear programs extremely well.
Within the Office of Nuclear Energy, the subcommittee provided $265.6 million, a decrease of $23 million from the current year's level, but almost $35 million more than the amount provided in the House bill. For continuation of R&D programs, the subcommittee provided $41.5 million for NERI; $12 million for the University Reactor Fuel Assistance and Support Program; and $5 million for NEPO. Within the funding for NERI, $4.5 million is provided for the development of a road map "for the commercial deployment of a next generation power reactor..."
Also within NERI, $1 million is provided for the "preparation of a detailed assessment that analyzes and describes the changes needed to existing ALWR designs in order for such designs to be considered viable in the U.S. marketplace in the next 5 to 10 years..." Another $1 million appropriation is provided to the Office of Nuclear Energy for the purpose of exploring opportunities to develop and exploit the advanced reactor technology being pursued between the U.S. and Russia for surplus weapons plutonium disposition. Finally, the bill also provides $1 million for to undertake a study to determine the feasibility of and issues associated with the deployment of small reactors which are inherently safe, relatively cost effective, and have other advantages. The study is due to Congress by next May.
Within the Isotope program, $16.7 million is provided. For the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF), the subcommittee appropriated $44 million to keep the facility in hot standby until it is determined whether it should be decommissioned or restarted. Unlike the House, which split the budget request for termination costs into two accounts, the Senate bill supports the budget request of $74 million for Nuclear Facilities Management, the account which had previously been named "Termination Costs". This line supports the operation of ANL-West facilities at $39.150 million, and EBR-II shutdown and other activities at $34.850 million.
The Senate bill also transfers the uranium programs activities from the Office of Nuclear Energy to the Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management in 2001. Therefore, no funds are included in the Office of Nuclear Energy for this activity.
Other items of interest:
Advanced Radioisotope Power Systems - $34.2 million
Low-Dose Effects Program - $20.1 million
Nuclear Waste Disposal (civilian) - $59.1 million
Nuclear Waste Disposal (defense) - $292 million
The subcommittee provided a total of $351 million for activities at Yucca Mountain, a decrease of $62 million from the House level of funding.
Fusion Energy - $227 million (a decrease of $22.7 million from the current year's funding level and $28 million from the House level)
Nuclear Nonproliferation - The Senate provided $908 million for Defense NN activities, an increase of $43 million over the budget request. Within this funding, $30 million is contained for the Nuclear Cities Initiative and $24.5 million for the Initiative for Proliferation Prevention. Also included is $20 million, the full budget request, for the International Nuclear Safety program.
Advanced Accelerator Applications - The Senate bill provides $60 million in support of this new budget line. The new office is to be established within the Office of Nuclear Energy. The mission of the AAA program shall include "conducting scientific, engineering research, development and demonstrations on 1. accelerator production of tritium as a back-up technology; 2. transmutation of spent nuclear fuel and waste; 3. material science; and 4. other advanced accelerator applications. The Senate has also transferred the APT program from within Defense Programs to this AAA office.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission - $474.9 million and a single year extension of the NRC's user fee collection authority.
The bill is expected to be on the Senate floor sometime late this week or the week of July 24.
