As Congress looks at funding after the end of the current Continuing Resolution, 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. The CR funding the government expires on Dec. 11, but WIPP will need additional funding in Fiscal Year 2015 for the recovery effort from the incidents in February. “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 letter to Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Chair Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).
They noted that the 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. The lawmakers request included $5.5 million in safeguards and security funding.
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