[Date Prev][Date Next]
[Chronological]
[Thread]
[Archive Top]
[cdn-nucl-l] FY 2004 ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE REPORT
Posted by the US House of Rep. Committee on Appropriations on Nov 5, 2003
and at:
http://appropriations.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&Pr
essRelease_id=335
See details of the DOE request to congress for FY04 at:
www.sc.doe.gov/orm/Budget_Finance/FY_04_Budget/FY_04_Budget.htm
Adam
-------------------
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FY 2004 ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS
CONFERENCE REPORT
November 5th, 2003 - -
FUNDING LEVELS:
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY:
The recommendation of $22 billion for the Department of Energy is $141
million under the President's request and $1.2 billion above fiscal year
2003.
. The chairman's mark includes $349.4 million for renewable energy
programs, $104.8 million below the budget request and $80.1 million below
fiscal year 2003. Much of this apparent reduction represents a transfer to
the new Office of Electricity Transmission and Distribution, as recommended
by the Secretary of Energy.
. Nuclear energy programs are funded at $393 million, an increase of
$23.9 million from the budget request and $133 million above fiscal year
2003. The Chairman's mark funds Nuclear Energy Plant Optimization (NEPO)
program at $3 million, the Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (NERI) at
$11.6 million, and nuclear energy technologies at $44.0 million. The
Chairman's mark also includes $6.5 million for the Nuclear Hydrogen
initiative and 68.0 for the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative.
. DOE science programs are funded at $3.45 billion, an increase of
$140 million over the budget request and $156 million above fiscal year
2003. High energy physics is funded at $738 million and nuclear physics at
$391.0 million, the latter $2.5 million over the request level. Biological
and environmental research is funded at $592 million, $92.5 million over the
request level. Funding for basic energy sciences is $1.0 billion, $8 million
over the request, and includes full funding for the Spallation Neutron
Source. The Advanced Scientific Computing Research initiative is funded at
$203.5 million, an increase of $30 million over the request. Fusion energy
research is funded at $268.1 million, $10.8 million above the request.
. The Nuclear Waste Program continues to be one of the Chairman's
highest energy priorities. The Chairman's mark provides a total of $580
million for nuclear waste disposal$11 million below the budget request and
$123 million more than fiscal year 2003.
. The Power Marketing Administrations are funded at $207.3 million,
the same as the President's request and $5.2 million above last year.
Reimbursable purchase power and wheeling activities are maintained at the
fiscal year 2003 levels.
. The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which
includes the nuclear weapons program, defense nuclear nonproliferation,
naval reactors and the office of the administrator, is funded at $8.7
billion, an increase of $529.7 million over last year, and $127.3 million
below the budget request. Funding of $6.12 billion is provided for weapons
activities; $1.37 billion for defense nuclear nonproliferation programs;
$764.4 million for naval reactors; and $339.9 for the office of the
administrator.
Nuclear Weapon Initiatives -- The conference agreement provides the
following funding levels on the new nuclear weapons initiatives proposed in
the budget request: $7.5 million for the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator
(RNEP) study, a reduction of $7.5 million from the request; $6.0 million for
Advance Concept studies for new nuclear weapons, of which $4.0 million is
unavailable for obligation pending submittal to Congress of the revised
Nuclear Weapons Stockpile plan detailing the reductions to the Total
Strategic Stockpile required to meet the President's proposed reductions;
$24.9 million for Enhanced Test Readiness, the same as the budget request,
restricting the National Nuclear Security Administration to improving its
current test readiness capability at 24 months rather than the shortened
test readiness proposal of 18 months; $10.8 million for Modern Pit
Facility, a reduction of $12.0 million from the request. Total funding for
nuclear weapon activities is 6.3 billion, $303 million above last year and
$94 million below the request
. Funding of $7.6 billion is provided for DOE environmental
management cleanup activities, $134 million less than the budget request
and $2161 million over last year. The Chairman's mark continues the strong
commitment to accelerate cleanup schedules at contaminated sites throughout
the country, thus reducing public health and safety risks as well as total
life-cycle cleanup costs.
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES:
Funding for Independent Agencies is $229.3 million, an increase of $81.3
million above the President's request and $22.6 million above fiscal year
2003. The funding levels by agency are: the Appalachian Regional
Commission--$66.0 million; the Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety
Board--$19.6 million; the Delta Regional Authority--$5 million; the Denali
Commission-$55 million; the Nuclear Regulatory Commission--$618.8 million
offset by revenues of $538.8 million; the Office of the Inspector General of
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission--$7.3 million offset by revenues of $6.7
million; and the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board--$3.2 million