Senator Murray Includes $25 Million for PNNL Relocation Project in Senate Spending Bill

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that she has included $25 million for the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in the 2009 Homeland Security Appropriations bill.  The funding will go toward PNNL’s relocation out of facilities that are being decommissioned and demolished as part of the Hanford 300 Area cleanup. The funding for replacement facilities will preserve 800-900 jobs in the Tri-Cities. Senator Murray is a member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee.

"This funding will allow PNNL to keep jobs in the community and keep capabilities in place for Department of Energy and Department of Homeland Security missions," said Senator Murray. "Maintaining the research and development infrastructure will also allow PNNL to continue to support national security, homeland security, and scientific projects for our country. Investing in PNNL creates high tech jobs and new economic opportunities in the Tri-Cities."

The lab currently has nearly half of its laboratory facilities in Hanford’s 300 Area, and it must make way for the on-going clean up of the site. This funding continues the multi-year project – called the Capability Replacement Laboratory Project – by building the Physical Sciences Laboratory (PSF) that will house capabilities for the Department of Energy and the Department of Homeland Security.  The PSF will be part of the Research Campus of the Future.

"I am pleased with the commitment for funding construction of the 300 Area replacement laboratory at PNNL and specifically the Physical Sciences Facility," said PNNL Laboratory Director Mike Kluse. "This critical funding enables the facility’s construction to remain on schedule and ensures an important role for Washington State in developing the science and technology necessary to support our nation’s homeland security missions."

Under a memorandum of understanding, the Capability Replacement Laboratory Project will be funded by three federal agencies:  Two agencies in the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Senator Murray has had to work each year to provide funding through the appropriations process to get funding from the Department of Homeland Security.

The funding for PNNL was announced today after the Senate Appropriations Committee met to consider the Fiscal Year 2009 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The bill will now move to the Senate floor.