Lawmakers press Bodman on Yucca

Suzanne Struglinski

Thursday, Feb. 10, 2005 | 10:53 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- House Democrats and Republicans pushed Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman to move forward on the Yucca Mountain nuclear dump at the department's first budget hearing Wednesday.

During an almost three-hour meeting, House Energy and Commerce Committee members repeatedly emphasized opening up the federal nuclear waste repository at Yucca, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

At least seven committee members wanted to know what Bodman would do to fix the numerous problems the nuclear dump faces. More questions were to submitted to him later as well.

The first question during the hearing, from Committee Chairman Joe Barton, D-Texas, was about the project's funding. He said the department's estimate showed it would be spending $1 billion on it by this time, but money still sits in the Nuclear Waste Fund and the department has only requested $651 million for fiscal year 2006.

He blamed Congress' inability to tap into the Nuclear Waste Fund to funnel money to the program directly.

"Every year we're told we need to solve this problem, but 'not this year,' " Barton said.

Without the funding change or an increase in the budget request, Barton said he saw no way the repository would open by 2010.

Bodman said the department will come forward with legislation to remove money put into the Nuclear Waste Fund from congressional spending limits. The fund is an account set aside to pay for the repository using fees paid by ratepayers.

Bodman said the lower budget request only reflects delays caused by problems with the repository's documents and lack of a radiation standard "but does not suggest any less enthusiasm" by the department for the project.

"I share your enthusiasm about Yucca Mountain and the need for Yucca Mountain to further the U.S. nuclear industry's future," Bodman said. "I am eager to work with the committee to find long-term solutions to the problem."

Nevada lawmakers and other Yucca Mountain critics oppose removing the congressional limits on the Nuclear Waste Fund. They say it would reduce congressional oversight of the nuclear dump effort because it would no longer have to compete for funding like other federal programs.

The Bush administration strongly supports the repository plan, despite extreme opposition from Nevada's congressional delegation and state officials. Nevada has no House members on this particular panel, but they have testified before it in the past.

The committee's top Democrat, Michigan Rep. John Dingell, reminded Bodman that nuclear utilities are suing the department because their used fuel has not been moved like it was supposed to be in 1998. He said every secretary has given the promise to take the waste fund "off-budget" but he has yet to see it happen.

Maryland Democrat Albert Wynn pressed Bodman on when the department will get its documents together to submit to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. By law, the department must get its documents in six months prior to submitting the license.

Bodman said he did not have a clear date yet on when the documents will go.

"I've only been there seven days," Bodman said.

He has been told that those working on the project are starting to run out of documents that need to be included.

Bodman released the president's budget and made his first appearance as energy secretary all in his first week on the job.