Department of Energy budget request for FY2001 released
President Clinton has unveiled his fiscal year 2001 federal budget request, the final budget of his Administration. While the funding levels included in the recommended package overall assume a slight increase over the 2000 levels, the request for nuclear programs remains relatively flat. There are no new nuclear-related endeavors included in the recommendation. All of the ongoing programs, with the exception of the Accelerator Transmutation of Waste (ATW) program, are recommended for continuation.
The only real growth is in the Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (NERI). The Clinton Administration has asked for an increase of $12.5 million over the $22.5 million provided for the research program this year for a program total of $35 million. Within the $35 million request, $7 million is for NERI activities within the Administration's proposed International Clean Energy Initiative/International NERI. There are currently 46 NERI R&D projects underway. Should the full request be appropriated by Congress, 20 new projects could be awarded in May of 2001.
The goal of the program continues to be the focus on new technologies to address key issues affecting the future of nuclear energy such as proliferation resistant reactors and fuel cycles; Generation IV nuclear power systems; new techniques for on-site and surface storage of waste; and new reactor designs with higher efficiency. The initiation of the International NERI program will support bilateral and multilateral peer-reviewed R&D.
The Nuclear Energy Plant Optimization program (NEPO) is recommended for continuation at $5 million, the same amount supported by Congress for this year. The mission for the programs remains the same: to ensure that the current fleet of nuclear plants can continue to deliver adequate and affordable energy supplies by applying new technologies to improve plant economics, reliability, and availability. The Department of Energy will award 15 research projects by June of this year.
The budget request for the University Reactor Fuel Assistance and Support program is a flat $12 million. This is the same amount provided by Congress for 2000 and is an inadequate level to support the infrastructure needs of our nation's university reactors. Within this program, $5 million is provided for the Nuclear Engineering Education Research grants (NEER). Also included is $200 thousand to continue the nuclear engineering education recruitment program, which is managed by ANS.
Also included in the budget request is $11.7 million to continue the low-dose exposure program within the DOE Office of Biological and Environmental Research. Funding was supported by Congress over the past two years to explore the effects of low-dose radiation and chemical exposure on humans.
The request also contains $17.4 million for Medical Isotope Support. Within that amount, DOE is proposing to continue the Advanced Nuclear Medicine Initiative with $2.5 million in 2001. That effort provides scholarships and fellowships for nuclear medicine specialists under a peer-review selection process to support nuclear medical science.
No funding is requested to continue the ATW program. Congress provided $9 million in 2000 for this activity (there was also no request by DOE for funding in 2000, thus it was a congressional add). DOE is planning to develop and issue the ATW program plan by this spring, which will then be presented to Congress and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The budget request also includes $44 million for activities at the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF). Issuance of the Secretary's Record of Decision (ROD) is planned for 2001 and the $44 million requested will be used to carry out that decision, whether it is for restart or deactivation.
As compared with the $100 million increase requested for solar and renewable energy programs, the $21 million increase for requested for DOE programs under the Office of Nuclear Energy seems miserly. The FY2001 request for renewable energy programs totals more than $400 million, while the comparable request for nuclear programs is just over $300 million.
Even funding for Fusion Energy Sciences is held flat at $247 million, the same amount provided by Congress in 2000.
Also included in the budget request is $437.5 million for the waste management program, a significant increase over the $353 million provided for 2000. Of that amount, $325.5 million would be derived from the Nuclear Waste Fund and $112 million from the defense nuclear waste disposal fund. Most of the funding would be used to continue work at the proposed repository at Yucca Mountain. DOE's schedule calls for the agency to issue a draft site recommendation report this fall, with a final recommendation going to the President in 2001. This level of funding will keep those activities on track.
For international nuclear safety, the budget request contains $20 million, an increase of $5 million over the amount appropriated this year. Funding for fissile materials disposition would receive an 11 percent increase to $223 million. Within the total, the amount sought for the U.S. effort to dispose of surplus weapons plutonium and uranium is $173.5 million. The funding for Russia's disposition program is also increased to $40 million. Activities surrounding gas- reactor technology would increase to $10 million from the $5 million provided for this year.
Once again, it will be up to Congress to adequately support nuclear science and technology programs through the annual appropriations process. Over the remainder of the year, we will be working with Congress and the Department of Energy to ensure adequate funding of these efforts so that the nuclear option remains viable.
