The National Nuclear Security Administration’s budget request for the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility does not project funding for the plant beyond Fiscal Year 2014. In budget details released by the NNSA yesterday, funding for the project in FY 2015 and beyond is marked “TBD.” Notably, that is a change from an earlier version of NNSA budget documents in which out year funding was marked zero, and at least one chart in the final budget request still places out year funding at zero. The NNSA declined to comment on draft versions of the budget.
The budget request notes, “considering the preliminary cost increases and the current budget environment, the Administration is conducting an assessment of alternative plutonium disposition strategies in FY 2013 and identifying options for FY 2014 and the out years.” While NNSA officials say the MOX option for plutonium disposition remains on the table, work at the project will be slowed while the evaluation is completed. “As part of the review of alternatives, the MOX fuel approach will be evaluated, taking into account the current baseline change proposal and the impacts of the slow-down during the assessment period,” NNSA spokesman Robert Middaugh said in a written response yesterday. The MOX construction request for FY 14 stands at $320 million, a drop compared to the $437.8 million requested in FY 13.
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