Questions for the future of Hanford cleanup remain, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) said after the Department of Energy yesterday released its Fiscal Year 2015 budget request boosting funding for the Office of River Protection but slashing cleanup funding at Richland. ORP saw the largest increase in DOE’s cleanup program, with a $202 million increase over enacted levels to a FY16 request of $1.41 billion. “While the overall ORP figure appears promising, uncertainties about the costs associated with the Consent Decree, the tank vapor plan, AY-102, and other activities could have major impacts on the amount of actual cleanup progress achieved by this request,” Newhouse said in a statement yesterday. “Further, the legal dispute between the State of Washington and the Department of Energy must be resolved as quickly and completely as possible to best position Hanford for appropriate funding from Congress. All parties should redouble their efforts – both in and out of court – to reach a workable solution.”
Hanford’s Richland Operations Office saw the largest cut, totaling $93 million, for an FY16 request level of $914 million. The proposed cut for Richland “is challenging by any standard,” Newhouse said. “It’s difficult to imagine a scenario where this budget truly provides adequate funding to meet milestones and keep cleanup work on track at projects within the River Corridor, Plutonium Finishing Plant and K Area. The Obama Administration must provide additional details on the impact of today’s request on Fiscal Year 2016 – as well as potential mortgage and maintenance costs associated with delays on overall project costs shouldered by taxpayers.”
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