Press Release-08-022, NRC Releases Fy 2009 Budget to Congress; Provides Increased Oversight of Nuclear Plants, Materials and New Reactors

Press Release-08-022: NRC Releases Fy 2009 Budget to Congress; Provides Increased Oversight of Nuclear Plants, Materials and New Reactors

ML080350243
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Issue date:	02/04/2008
From:	Office of Public Affairs
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Press Release-08-022
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NRC NEWS U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200 Washington, D.C. 20555-0001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov Site: http://www.nrc.gov No.08-022 February 4, 2008 NRC RELEASES FY 2009 BUDGET TO CONGRESS; PROVIDES INCREASED OVERSIGHT OF NUCLEAR PLANTS, MATERIALS AND NEW REACTORS The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission released its proposed Fiscal Year 2009 budget to Congress today, requesting $1.02 billion to effectively regulate nuclear power plants and other users of nuclear materials to protect people and the environment.

The budget includes $786.6 million for nuclear reactor safety, $221.3 million for nuclear materials and waste safety --including $37.3 million for the high-level waste repository-- and

$9 million for the Inspector General.

The budget includes a $90.9 million increase over the FY 2008 budget for enhanced regulatory activities driven primarily by continued industry interest in constructing new nuclear facilities and increased oversight of existing reactors, materials and waste licensing. The budget supports initiating the review of seven Combined Operating License (COL) applications for new reactors and continued review of 14 other COL applications expected in FY 2008. In addition to oversight of the existing 104 power reactors, 33 test and research reactors, 20 fuel facilities, and nuclear materials, the agency expects to review 21 uranium recovery applications.

Resources are also provided for review of an expected application from the Department of Energy to construct a geologic repository for high-level radioactive waste at Yucca Mountain, Nev.

By law, the NRC recovers approximately 90 percent of its budget from user fees less an appropriation from the Nuclear Waste Fund (NWF) and other activities which are not fee recoverable. As a result, the NRCs FY 2009 budget request will be financed with $855.5 million from user fees, $37.3 million from the NWF, and $124.2 million from the General Fund.

More details on the agencys FY 2009 budget can be found in NUREG-1100, Vol. 24, available on NRCs Web site at: http://ww.nrc.gov at the BUDGET link at the bottom left-hand corner. A hard copy is available from the Office of Public Affairs, by calling (301) 415-8200 or e-mailing OPA@nrc.gov.

News releases are available through a free listserv subscription at the following Web address:

http://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/listserver.html . The NRC homepage at www.nrc.gov also offers a SUBSCRIBE link. E-mail notifications are sent to subscribers when news releases are posted to NRC's Web site.