As preparations continue for Fiscal Year 2015 appropriations bills, New Mexico Sens. Tom Udall (D) and Martin Heinrich (D) are urging the Obama Administration to amend its budget request to respond to the incidents at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. The Department of Energy requested $220.5 million for WIPP for FY’15 but since the request was developed DOE launched a major recovery effort in response to the Feb. 14 radiation release. “As Congressional committees begin work on the FY’15 appropriations bills, to ensure transparency we believe a revised budget justification that addresses all critical needs for recovery of WIPP should be completed and an amended budget request submitted to Congress as soon as possible,” Udall and Heinrich wrote in a June 2 letter to the White House. “Additionally, WIPP is likely to require recovery spending in FY’16 and we urge you to give consideration to the extra amounts needed to restore full operations at WIPP.”
Jobs