White House asks Congress to come to Yucca Mountain project

White House asks Congress to come to Yucca Mountain project's aid

Washington (Platts)--17Nov2004


The White House has asked the US Congress to help the administration overcome
two potential obstacles to the Energy Dept's plan to build a high-level
nuclear waste repository in Nevada, according to a senior Senate aide. Alex
Flint, staff director for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee,
told reporters Wednesday the White House has asked lawmakers to pass a Bush
administration proposal that would fence off billions of dollars in a federal
nuclear waste fund for the Yucca Mountain Project in Nevada. The measure would
also give DOE some $749-mil in fiscal year 2005 for the project. 

If the proposal does not pass, DOE is expected to get just $131-mil in this
fiscal year to build the spent-fuel repository, well short of the $880-mil the
agency sought. That could derail its plan to open the repository in 2010.
Congress is trying to finish work on an omnibus bill to fund government
programs and could attach the White House proposal in that measure.

The White House has also asked lawmakers insert a proposal into the omnibus
bill to help get the government around a federal court ruling in July,
according to Flint. The DC Circuit Court of Appeals in July threw out a
radiation standard for the Nevada site that DOE was planning to rely on to get
a Nuclear Regulatory Commission permit to operate the facility.

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