Update: DOE environmental nominee makes it through committee vote

The nomination of Anne White to lead environmental management projects for the Department of Energy, including the Hanford nuclear reservation, has been cleared by a key committee.

On Tuesday the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources approved the nomination by voice vote during a business meeting.

Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., earlier had threatened to place a hold on the nomination because of DOE uranium policy that is hurting mining in his state.

White, of Michigan, was nominated by the White House early in January as DOE assistant secretary for environmental management, a position known to workers as EM-1.

White is a nuclear engineer and the founder of Bastet Technical Services, a consulting firm on international nuclear regulatory development and compliance; radioactive waste management and policy; environmental restoration and documentation of environmental compliance.

James Owendoff now is leading DOE environmental management work in an acting capacity.

The nomination also will be considered by the Senate Armed Services Committee before it can advance to the full Senate for consideration.

This story was originally published January 30, 2018 at 2:37 PM with the headline "Update: DOE environmental nominee makes it through committee vote."