GRUMBLY ON D.O.E. E.M. CUTS

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@igc.org>]

ENERGY DEPARTMENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS 
CUT DEEPLY

I usually focus on Defense Department environmental issues, but the 
Energy Department's environmental program just suffered a huge cut 
at the hands of the House National Security Committee, too. Please 
note that the Environmental Management program includes much 
more than cleanup. It's responsible for protecting plutonium 
stockpiles, for example.

On May 25, 1995, Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environmental 
Management Tom Grumbly issued the following statement:

"The Department of Energy is concerned with the cuts of nearly 
$750 million taken by the House National Security Committee from 
its Environmental Management budget. We are concerned about cuts 
directed to specific program areas, particularly in the high risk 
nuclear materials program. In light of the serious health, 
environmental, and safety problems posed by the former nuclear 
weapons complex, these cuts, which amount to about half of the 
Committee's reductions for the Department's weapons cleanup 
program, are significant and will have a substantial impact on 
program results. The other half were uncosted balances. The belief 
that uncosted obligations is 'free money' or a 'slush fund' is not true. 
These funds are the result of prudent accounting, resulting from 
withholding contractor funds until actions are completed, or 
scheduling slippage to obtain permits. We have already reduced our 
uncosted obligations and our current balances are $500 million less 
than previous years. Cutting our budget on the assumption that these 
uncosted balances are 'available' is borrowing from 'Peter to pay 
Paul.'

"If finally enacted, the impacts will be felt around the country 
through delays in cleanup actions and in additional reductions in the 
work force. We will continue to stand by the President's budget, 
which supports the most analytically defensible program, and will 
work with the Congress to address these concerns."

Lenny Siegel