Work at the Hanford nuclear reservation is expected to be paid for until spring at current funding levels because Congress has not passed a Department of Energy budget for the fiscal year starting Wednesday.
The Senate could pass a continuing resolution today to allow DOE to continue spending money.
Friday, a separate Senate supplemental appropriations bill that could have boosted Hanford spending in the waning days of fiscal 2008 by an estimated $160 million to
$170 million failed to make it to a vote. For the Senate to consider the bill, supporters needed 60 votes on a motion to proceed to consideration of the bill but received only 52.
The bill, which included $56 billion of spending, had been proposed to stimulate the economy.
Money for cleanup of Hanford and other DOE weapons sites had been included in the proposed bill through the efforts of Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., who has been concerned about inadequate funding for cleanup of Hanford. The money would have been used for cleanup of Hanford along the Columbia River, transuranic waste projects, soil and ground water cleanup, upgrades at the tank farms, security and completing studies on bulk vitrification as a technology to treat radioactive waste.
"With the administration's cuts already taking a toll, this funding would have helped get us back on track to meet critical cleanup goals," Murray said in a statement.
The Senate is expected to meet this weekend and could take up a continuing resolution that would provide money for many federal programs as the new fiscal year begins in October. Included is a continuing resolution for the Department of Energy, which covers the Hanford budget.
It would allow cleanup work to continue at fiscal 2008 levels until March 6.
In fiscal 2008, Hanford was operated under a budget of $1.86 billion, but that number included an across-the-board reduction of 0.91 percent after the appropriation was set.
The House passed a similar continuing resolution earlier this week.
Although the bill sets DOE spending until spring, Congress could pass a Department of Energy budget for fiscal 2009 before then.
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Senate's proposed DOE budget adds to tank farm money
Senate's proposed DOE budget adds to tank farm money
The Hanford tank farms would see some relief under the Senate version of the Department of Energy budget for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
However, it's too early to tell how that could affect proposed layoffs at the tank farms next month.
The Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved the fiscal 2012 budget that includes Hanford, mostly matching the already approved House budget.
Hanford tank farms lay off 244 workers
Hanford tank farms lay off 244 workers
Hanford's tank farm contractor handed out layoff notices Monday, bringing to 244 the number of layoffs at the nuclear reservation linked to uncertainties in the budget for the fiscal year that began Saturday.
The 244 layoffs were fewer than previously had been approved at the tank farms, where 56 million gallons of radioactive waste are stored from the past production of plutonium for the nation's nuclear weapons program.
But it still puts the total cutback at Hanford since spring at 1,993 jobs. The year started with about 12,000 jobs at Hanford.
Hanford regulators will postpone some cleanup deadlines
Hanford regulators will postpone some cleanup deadlines
Hanford regulators have agreed to let some interim environmental cleanup deadlines slide at the nuclear reservation to focus on the highest priority work, given the realities of the federal budget.
The changes are expected to allow work to continue to demolish the Plutonium Finishing Plant, which the Department of Energy heard during public comments should be a priority.
The new plan also retains the focus on completing cleanup along the Columbia River by 2015 and cleaning up contaminated ground water beneath Hanford.
Hastings hopeful for less painful Hanford budget
Hastings hopeful for less painful Hanford budget
There still is hope that the Hanford nuclear reservation budget for fiscal 2012 may not be as grim as proposed layoffs indicate, Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., said Wednesday.
He spoke at the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce lunch in Pasco, also discussing the budget deficit, saving dams, Rattlesnake Mountain and the 2012 race for the presidency.
The Department of Energy is prudent to be prepared with no DOE budget passed for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, Hastings said.
Hanford contractor says 70 volunteer for layoffs
Hanford contractor says 70 volunteer for layoffs
Washington River Protection Solutions agreed to voluntary layoffs for all 70 workers who applied for them, the Hanford contractor announced Tuesday.
The layoffs include 44 nonunion employees and 26 union employees.
They will ease some of the pain for the additional layoffs the tank farm contractor is anticipating. It is preparing to cut up to 475 jobs by Oct. 13 under a worst-case fiscal 2012 budget scenario.
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