June 18, 2014

House Appropriators Clear E&W Bill, Clarify Pension/WIPP Transfer Language

By ExchangeMonitor

House appropriators cleared the Fiscal Year 2015 Energy and Water Appropriations bill yesterday, clarifying language that will give the Department of Energy the authority to divert up to $120 million in planned pension payments toward recovery efforts at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. An amendment drafted by Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.) stated that planned pension fund payments could be used “if those payments would result in a funded status in excess of 100 percent.” It also makes clear that no funds already contributed to pension plans could be used. He said the language clarified the intent of a provision already in the bill. “This is just a clarification of existing policy and it does what is very important, to make sure the hard working men and women who work for our contractors have their concerns addressed and make sure their pensions are safe.” The amendment was agreed to by a voice vote.

DOE has not yet publicly provided information on the estimated costs for getting WIPP back in operation, though some Department officials have informally told Congressional staff that about $130 million in additional funds could be needed next year. In its FY 2015 budget request, DOE is seeking approximately $220 million for WIPP. Under the House bill, the Department would have the ability to transfer up to $90 million from the NNSA’s “weapons activities” funding, and up to $30 million from the NNSA’s “defense nuclear nonproliferation” funding. Overall, the bill provides approximately $4.801 billion in defense environmental cleanup funds, approximately $527 million below DOE’s request. The bill also provides $8.20 billion for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s weapons program, a cut of $111 million, and $1.52 billion for the NNSA’s nonproliferation account, largely matching the Administration’s $1.55 billion request.

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