HANFORD: Rejecting Short-sighted White House Proposal to Cut Back on Cleanup, Senator Murray Successfully Secures $315 Million Increase for Nuclear Waste Cleanup in Newly-released Senate Bill

Senator Murray: “I will never stop fighting to make sure the federal government remembers just how much this community sacrificed in order to help our country win World War II and the Cold War” 

Senate Energy & Water Appropriations Bill, made public today, also includes investments Senator Murray fought for, including investments in Pacific Northwest National Lab, the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, and Army Corps projects across Washington state 

(Washington, D.C.)  – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, announced the Senate not only rejected a short-sighted budget proposal from the White House but in fact added $315 million in federal funding critical to nuclear waste cleanup at Hanford. The Fiscal Year 2019 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill, which cleared a Senate committee today, includes $838 million for Richland Operations, which has more work to do on several high-risk cleanup projects along the Columbia River and on the Central Plateau of Hanford, and $1.57 billion for the Office of River Protection, which has a clear and demonstrated need for additional investments to support removing and treating tank waste. After passing the Senate Committee on Appropriations today, the legislation now moves to the full Senate.

“I’m so glad that once again, the Senate has rejected the White House’s attempt to shirk its responsibility to the Tri-Cities community,” Senator Murray said. “Cleaning up Hanford is a complex, long-term project that requires significant resources, and I will never stop fighting to make sure the federal government remembers just how much this community sacrificed in order to help our country win World War II and the Cold War.”

In addition to Hanford funding, Senator Murray also fought to ensure the bill included a number of things important to Washington state:

• Increased investments in scientific and energy research and development programs important to the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), significantly restoring Trump Administration funding cuts which could negatively affect science and engineering jobs at PNNL;
• Prevented the President’s proposal to privatize portions of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA);
• Urged the Department of Energy not to change the long-standing practice of having BPA report to the Deputy Secretary; and
• Increased investments for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to support our ports and waterways, which are essential to the economic security and health of communities across Washington state.

Highlights of the FY 2019 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill: 

• $2.411 billion for nuclear waste cleanup at Hanford

  • $838.171 million for Richland Operations, $180 million more than the President’s budget proposal
  • $1.573 billion for Office of River Protection, $135 million more than President’s budget proposal

• $20 million for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, supports operation, maintenance, and cleanup activities at the Hanford and Los Alamos, New Mexico sites

• $6.65 billion for Department of Energy’s Office of Science, supports 10 national laboratories, including PNNL ($1.259 billion more than the President’s budget proposal)

  • $715 million for Biological and Environmental Research, supports the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory and Atmospheric Radiation Measurement User Facility at PNNL. These scientific user facilities provide access to unique, state of the art equipment for more than 1,800 users annually.
  • $35 million for the Energy Sciences Capability, supports a construction project at PNNL to provide modern lab space and equipment

• $260 million for Department of Energy’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response, supports research and development at PNNL, Washington State University (WSU), utilities, and industry in the Northwest

• $2.322 billion for Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, ($1.626 billion more than the President’s budget proposal); supports research and development efforts at PNNL, WSU, University of Washington, and more

• $6.927 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ($2.142 billion more than the President’s budget proposal)

  • $50 million to support small ports, including the Ports of Bellingham, Ilwaco, Chinook, Ridgefield, Skagit, Willapa Harbor, and more
  • $50 million to support donor and energy transfer ports, including the Northwest Seaport Alliance
  • $6 million to help combat invasive species in the Columbia River Basin through watercraft inspection stations, rapid response, and monitoring