Simpson scores huge increases for INL in House bill

Idaho's representative on the House Appropriations Committee has good news for the site's nuclear energy and cleanup programs.

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson (right). a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, announced substantial increases in funding for the Idaho National Laboratory and the Idaho Cleanup Project as part of legislation funding the Department of Energy in FY 2009.

“The funding increases in this bill represent a complete endorsement by Congress of the significant contributions INL’s workforce and leadership are making to our energy and national security,” said Simpson.

Nuclear rocks

The real meat and potatoes of the funding measure is in nuclear energy. Simpson said,

“This bill provides a substantial boost to the Next Generation Nuclear Plant and the development of advanced gas reactor technology. It also places a significant investment in upgrades to extend the life of the Advanced Test Reactor. Nuclear energy research and development at INL are well served in this bill.”

Admiral John Grossenbacher, INL’s Laboratory Director quoted in a statement released by Simpson's office, said.

"I want to thank Congressman Mike Simpson, the other members of the House Appropriations Committee and their staff for this vote of confidence in the direction of the INL and some of its major programs. The budget increases for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) and the INL infrastructure account will help the INL play a leadership role in our nation's energy future.”

Cleanup funding cuts restored

A critical element of public acceptance of the site's growing nuclear missions is continued progress in cleanup of the radioactive legacy of Cold War programs. For Idaho, Simpson reported a $40 million increase over the President’s request for cleanup programs at INL bringing total cleanup funding to $472,124,000.

A clear message of support for the INL and Idaho

Among its other provisions, the Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill includes substantial increases in the following areas.

• A $46 million increase for new buildings, renovation of existing buildings, and equipment purchases, and the Advanced Test Reactor’s operation as a National Scientific User Facility.
• A $130 million increase for the Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems program bringing total funding to $200 million.
• A total of $196 million of this funding is targeted to the Next Generation Nuclear Plant which will be built at INL.
• Another $10 million is for upgrades to the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR).
• Adds $1 million for equipment purchases at the Center for Advanced Energy Studies at INL.
• Provides $1.25 million for the City of Boise’s expansion of its geothermal system to Boise State University
• Allocates $1 million for Medical Isotope Production using accelerators at Idaho State University.

Simpson also announced $4 million in funding for INL’s Power and Cyber Systems Protection Program as part of a separate Department of Homeland Security funding bill.

The Energy and Water Appropriations bill now heads to consideration by the full Appropriations Committee where approval is expected next week.

Summary of Key Appropriation Committee language

From Rep. Pete Visclosky (this is from a press release from his office)

• Nuclear Energy

The Committee’s recommendation for nuclear energy research and development represents a responsible approach to the nation’s use of nuclear power. The recommendation provides $200 million for demonstrating the GEN IV nuclear reactor technology, an increase of $130 million over the President’s request, but provides no funding for the Administration’s counterproductive, poorly designed, and poorly executed Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP). Funding for the Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative is $120 million, with $90 million funded through the Nuclear Energy Program and $30 million funded in the Office of Science

• Environmental Cleanup

There is a large and unfortunate legacy of contamination from the past 60 years of nuclear weapons manufacture and various canceled approaches to handling spent fuel. This bill enables completion of several smaller sites in fiscal year 2009, and sustains cleanup of a number of larger sites. The bill provides an increase of $221.5 million over the request for Defense and Non-Defense Environmental Management programs, and the Uranium Decontamination and Decommissioning account.

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