DOE says budget cut would force waste program layoffs

DOE says budget cut would force waste program layoffs, delays

Washington (Platts)--26May2004


A $131-million appropriation would force DOE to lay off 70% of the waste
program's federal and contract workforce, creating an "indefinite" delay in
repository operations, Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham said this week.
Abraham's comment came in a response to Rep. David Hobson's (R-Ohio) request
for information on the potential impact of a $131-million fiscal 2005
allocation for the DOE waste program, a reduction of nearly $750-million from
the administration's request. DOE told Hobson it could be difficult to
reassemble the labor pool once funding increased, a factor that could deal the
program's pace and available expertise devastating blows. Meanwhile, spent
fuel and defense high-level waste would be stranded at sites across the U.S.,
DOE said. Hobson, who chairs the House Appropriations subcommittee with
jurisdiction over DOE spending, has maintained that $131-million is the
maximum he could appropriate for the program, given that $749-million of the
FY-05 request depends on Congress passing legislation reclassifying the waste
fee as a user fee. Senate approval of such a bill is doubtful.

Visit: www.platts.com for extensive coverage on energy!!