WHAT DO THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT & CONTINUING RESOLUTION MEAN FOR DOE?
Last month, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY2025 was passed by Congress and approved by the President, authorizing $895 billion for
defense and national security programs. The number follows a cap on national defense spending that Republicans and the White House agreed to last year, and is the same amount that the Biden Administration requested in its final budget. Funding items are in line with that request as well. Below is a summary of some of the key Department of Energy (DOE) & National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) authorized
line items (shown in thousands of dollars): Atomic Energy Defense Activities National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) - $24,939,925 - Weapons Activities -
$19,981,044
- Los Alamos Plutonium Modernization – 1,494,086
- Savannah River Plutonium Modernization – 1,275,332
- PULSE New Access at
the Nevada National Security Site – $25,000
- Plutonium mission safety and quality building at Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, NM – $49,000
- Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation - $2,451,108
- Naval Reactors - $1,968,773
- Naval Reactors Facility Medical Science Complex in Idaho Falls, ID – $45,000
- Federal Salaries and Expenses -
$539,000
Defense Environmental Cleanup - $7,005,630 - Richland – $983,514
- Office of River Protection –
$1,985,165
- Idaho National Lab – $459,243
- NNSA sites & Nevada off-sites – $343,187
- Oak Ridge Reservation –
$553,705
- Savannah River Site – $1,565,471
- Waste Isolation Pilot Plant – $425,420
- Other Defense Activities -
$1,140,023
- Legacy Management – $205, 258
Total: Atomic Energy Defense Activities - $33,085,578 Other relevant
items: - Nuclear Energy – $150,000
- Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board - $47,000
The NDAA for FY2025 also creates the following policies for DOE
& NNSA – - Prohibition on the use of federal funds to support access to national security laboratories and nuclear weapons production facilities for certain individuals from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
- Authorization of the NNSA to reimburse contractors for
transportation services in accordance with an approved transportation plan.
- A prohibition of DOE from researching naval nuclear fuel systems based on low-enriched uranium until the DOE & the Department of Defense (DOD) make certain determinations to Congress.
- A
prohibition on NNSA from reconverting or retiring W76-2 warheads. The NNSA Administrator could waive this if it’s confirmed that Russia and China do not have similar capabilities and that DOD does not have a valid military requirement for the warhead.
- Modification and termination of certain reporting requirements under the Atomic Energy Defense Act related to
the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility, along with reporting requirements relating to cost-benefit analyses.
- A directive for NNSA to assess the viability of several possible locations for a modular, scalable uranium enrichment facility by 2035.
- A requirement for
NNSA’s national security laboratories to notify Congress of certain regulations that could inhibit nuclear weapons stockpile activities.
The NDAA only authorizes spending, and Congress must pass a full-year appropriations bill to truly provide funds to these programs. CONTINUING RESOLUTION In the meantime, a continuing resolution (CR; H.R.10545) that extends fiscal year (FY) 2024 funding levels until March 14 has been passed and approved, delaying battles over government funding until the administration of
President-elect Donald Trump is more established. Below is a summary of some of the key DOE/NNSA funded line items (shown in thousands of dollars): Department of Energy - Defense Environmental Cleanup - $2,415,000 for
necessary expenses related to damages caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton
- Other Defense Activities - $1,750,000, in additional funds to conduct risk reduction and modification of National Security Systems
National Nuclear Security Administration - Weapons Activities - $1,884,000, for necessary expenses related to damages caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
ECA looks forward to providing continuous updates on the status of the budget and appropriations. To learn more about the Budget and Appropriations process and the NDAA, visit our website.
ENSURING LONG TERM SUCCESS: ECA TRANSITION PAPER FOR EM
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) must continuously examine its work and evolve. The Energy Communities Alliance (ECA) is calling on the next Administration to launch a comprehensive review of all aspects of the EM program. To meet the challenges and better ensure the continued success of the DOE-EM program, the ECA’s Transition paper
offers the following recommendations: - Establishment of disposal paths for every type of radioactive and hazardous waste, including ensuring that both private and public sites are available and utilized.
- The reevaluation of DOE-EM’s use of the end-state contracting model so that more funds are available for actual work.
- Ensuring that regulatory agreements are reasonably achievable and balance short- and long-term needs.
- Improvement of workforce planning to
address “brain drain” and long-term needs for skilled talent of all kinds.
- Continuing focus on economic and energy development benefits.
- The maintaining of robust local, state, tribal government, and stakeholder engagement at each site.
- Clarification on DOE policy regarding how the discovery of hazardous and radioactive materials at “completed sites” will be addressed to ensure that cleanup is protective of human health and the environment, and that the local community is
not responsible for the DOE’s legacy waste cleanup.
- The reconstituting of a dedicated nuclear waste organization within the DOE to address high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel issues.
Read the paper by clicking its cover above or the button below!
WHAT YOU'VE MISSED: Palisades steam generator repairs on NRC docket The Nuclear
Regulatory Commission is hosting a hybrid public meeting with Holtec next week to discuss plans for needed repairs at Michigan’s Palisades nuclear plant before bringing the unit back on line.
The January 14 meeting is being held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST) both in person at NRC offices in Rockville, Md., and online. NRC staff will discuss with Holtec its plans to submit separate license amendment requests related to primary coolant system “leak-before-break” and steam generator sleeving at
Palisades. Read the full story Comments received on Hanford’s tank waste plans The Department of Energy has agreed to hold a 30-day review and comment period on a draft environmental analysis associated with a proposed plan for retrieving, grouting, and transporting some of Hanford’s low-activity tank waste for out-of-state
disposal. Constellation wins landmark 10-year government electricity contract The U.S. General Services Administration has announced a historic long-term purchase of electricity, including carbon-free electricity, from Constellation New Energy Inc. to power 13 federal agencies. In combination with another GSA
contract, Constellation secured more than $1 billion from the deal. Read the full story
Gone Fission Nuclear Report - New ORANO Plant Boosts Nuclear Growth December 09, 2024 | S4 E20 It’s being called the largest investment in the history of the State of Tennessee. Orano USA has announced plans to build a new multi-billion dollar, state-of-the-art centrifuge uranium enrichment plant in Oak Ridge. The facility will provide fuel for America’s nuclear power plants and reduce U.S. dependence on foreign sources. In this
week’s episode of the Gone Fission Nuclear Report, host Michael Butler discusses this exciting project with Orano USA President Jean-Luc Palayer. www.gonefissionpodcast.com NucleCast - Jill Hruby: NNSA's Journey: Achievements & Future Challenges January 7, 2025 | S02 E200 In this special 200th episode of NucleCast, Jill Hruby, the Administrator of NNSA and Undersecretary of the Department of Energy for Nuclear Security, discusses the achievements and challenges faced by NNSA during her tenure, including the modernization of nuclear weapons, strengthening international partnerships, and
the importance of infrastructure projects. Jill shares insights on the Strategic Posture Commission's recommendations, the plans for pit production, and the significance of the National Ignition Facility (NIF). She emphasizes the need for a renewed focus on nuclear IQ and offers advice for future leadership in the nuclear enterprise. https://rss.com/podcasts/nuclecast-podcast/1828710/
Climate Change and Nuclear Power 2024: Financing Nuclear Energy in Low Carbon Transitions Virtual | January
13 Register Here National
Academies Workshop: Pathways for Nuclear Development Washington D.C. | January 29-30 Register Here ECA New Nuclear Forum 2025 Idaho Falls, ID | April 22 - 24 Learn More Here
|
|
