97 Energy & Water Appropriations Conference Finale

[Lisa Marina Brooks <lbrooks@essential.org>]

  * * * * For Your Information * * * *
  
  The FY 1997 Energy and Water Appropriations Conference report has
  passed both houses and was sent to the President, who is expected
  to sign it soon.  The bill contains funding in the areas of 
  renewables, nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, environmental
  cleanup, nuclear waste, and other areas.  The conference
  agreements include reprogramming language that limits DOE control
  of its spending beyond what is specifically authorized in the
  report.  Congress seems to be unhappy with DOE efforts to keep
  programs alive that have been previously zeroed out.
  
  Amongst the highlights are the final year of funding for both the
  Advanced Light Water Reactor (ALWR) program and TFTR fusion
  program, results of the Schaefer/Klug renewables amendment, and
  the conferees' spitefulness towards Nevada's efforts in blocking
  the 1996 Nuclear Waste Policy Act.  The ALWR program received $38
  million, despite House funding set at $17 million and Senate
  funding set at $22 million plus $18 million for termination.  The
  report language stipulates that this is the final year of federal
  funding for the ALWR program.  The TFTR is also scheduled for
  shutdown and will received no more funds for operation.  The
  Schaefer/Klug amendment on the House floor for renewables added
  additional funding, but still left an overall reduction from FY
  1996 levels.  And finally, the conferees blocked any funding to
  the State of Nevada to be used for oversight at Yucca Mountain. 
  In the 1982 Nuclear Waste Policy Act, the DOE was to give money
  to aid any state where a repository might be placed to allow for
  oversight.
  
  On the lighter side of things, we are now safer due to the
  conferees agreement that security guards should carry side arms
  at the gaseous diffusion uranium enrichment plants.  Critical
  Mass Energy Project sure does feel better now.
  
  FY 1997 Energy and Water Conference (in Millions)
  
  FY 1996   Requested      Conference
  
  Solar and Renewable Energy Programs
  $288.419  $363.245       $269.952
  
  Advanced Light Water Reactor Program
  $40       $40            $38
  
  Pyroproccessing (Nuclear Technology R&D)
  $25       $30            $20
  
  Fusion Energy
  $227.394  $255.600       $232.500
  
  Environmental Restoration (Non-defense)
  $261.377  $358.239       $325
  
  Waste Management (Non-defense)
  $173.514  $199.023       $184.218
  
  
  For more information contact Auke Piersma at Public Citizen (202)
  546-4996 or apiersma@citizen.org
  
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