Kenneth Fletcher
WC Monitor
11/21/2014
As Congress looks at funding for the remainder of the fiscal year after the end of the current Continuing Resolution next month, New Mexico Sens. Martin Heinrich (D) and Tom Udall (D) are asking Senate appropriators to provide an additional $113 million for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant above current funding levels. That includes an additional $5.5 million in safeguards and security funding, for a total of $334 million in Fiscal Year 2015 funding. The CR funding the government expires on Dec. 11, but WIPP will need additional funding in FY’15 to move forward with efforts to get the facility back in operation after a pair of incidents occurred early this year. “We believe it is essential that WIPP have additional funding in FY’15 to continue implementing the recovery plan, including all of the recommendations of the Accident Investigation Boards,” the lawmakers said in a Nov. 17 bill to Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Chair Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).
DOE had asked for $220.5 million for WIPP for FY’15, but since the request was developed the Department has launched a major recovery effort in response to a Feb. 14 radiation release. The Department’s recovery plan for the facility calls for initial operations to resume in early 2016 at a cost of about $240 million. The New Mexico lawmakers noted that the Senate subcommittee supported increased funding in its draft FY15 appropriations bill, which had $323 million for WIPP that included $102 million in recovery funds. “Though the president’s original FY15 budget request for WIPP did not reflect the additional funding required to respond to the accidents, we very much appreciate your including additional funding in your subcommittee’s draft bill for FY15 to support of WIPP’s recovery," they wrote.
Rep. Pearce to Continue Pressure on House Side
Meanwhile, a House version of the Fiscal Year 2015 Energy and Water Appropriations bill would give DOE authority to transfer up to $120 million from contractor pension plans for WIPP recovery. Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.), whose district includes WIPP, said this week he will keep working with House appropriators to ensure the site has adequate recovery funding. “WIPP remains vital to the nation security of our nation. The House acted quickly this summer to approve the full funding for WIPP at $340 million in 2015, including $120 million for recovery,” Pearce said in a statement. “I will continue to work with [House Energy and Water Appropriations] Chairman Mike Simpson to ensure any budget includes these numbers.”
