Bush urges House to fully fund GNEP for FY-07

Washington (Platts)--24May2006

The Bush administration urged the House to fully fund DOE's Global Nuclear
Energy Partnership program in fiscal 2007 and criticized appropriators'
decision to eliminate all funds for DOE's mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel facility for
the disposition of surplus weapons-grade plutonium. The White House Office of
Management and Budget asserted in a statement today that the GNEP program
would address minimizing the toxicity of waste slated for deep-geologic
disposal; eliminate proliferation risks; and expand the use of nuclear power.
OMB issued the statement as the House debated the energy and water funding
bill for FY-07; the debate was still going on at press time. Regarding the MOX
cut, OMB added that changing the disposition strategy now would delay the
disposition of surplus weapons plutonium by years and would waste the nearly
$1 billion already invested in the MOX program. Separately, OMB also voiced
support for House appropriators' full funding of the repository project at
Yucca Mountain, Nevada.


 

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