Press Release-05-023, NRC Fy 2006 Budget Increases Nuclear Reactor Safety Program

Press Release-05-023: NRC Fy 2006 Budget Increases Nuclear Reactor Safety Program

ML050380515
Person / Time
Issue date:	02/07/2005
From:	Office of Public Affairs
To:
References
Press Release-05-023
Download: ML050380515 (2)

Text

NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, DC 20555-001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov Web Site: http://www.nrc.gov/OPA No.05-023 February 7, 2005 NRC FY 2006 BUDGET INCREASES NUCLEAR REACTOR SAFETY PROGRAM As part of the Presidents Fiscal Year 2006 budget to Congress, the NRC released its proposed budget of $701.7 million that includes improvements in nuclear plant safety and security.

This budget will provide NRC with the necessary resources to regulate the safe and secure use and management of radioactive materials, said Jesse L. Funches, Chief Financial Officer.

NRCs FY 2006 budget request is $32 million over its FY 2005 budget. The increase includes approximately $17.7 million to strengthen reactor inspections and to keep pace with licensing needs of nuclear power plants. This includes improving the effectiveness of design/engineering inspections, enhancing security oversight, reviewing applications for new reactor designs and early site permits, and reducing the backlog of research and test reactor license renewals and power reactor licensing actions.

The budget also includes an increase of approximately $2.5 million to fund NRCs new responsibilities for oversight of certain Department of Energy radioactive waste incidental to reprocessing and $11.8 million primarily to fund Federal pay raises.

Funding levels for each of the agencys major programs and the Inspector General are provided below. Homeland security resources of $61 million are included in these programs.

Program Million Nuclear Reactor Safety $ 469.2

- Licensing ($274.9M)

- Inspection ($194.3M)

Nuclear Materials & Waste Safety $ 224.2

- Fuel Facilities ($36.6 M)

- Nuclear Materials ($65.9M)

- High-Level Waste Repository ($69.1M)

- Decommissioning and Low-Level Waste ($28.1M)

- Spent Fuel Storage and Transportation ($24.5M)

Inspector General $ 8.3

NRCs budget reflects $567 million in fees that will be assessed to licensees, resulting in a net appropriation of $135 million.

More detailed information on the budget (NUREG-1100, Volume 21) is available on NRCs web site at http://www.nrc.gov at the Plans, Budget, and Performance link in the bottom right-hand corner of the web page or may be purchased from the Government Printing Office by calling 202-512-1800. All media inquiries should be made to the Office of Public Affairs.