DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (Uranium Enrichment) HEARING BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY ONE HUNDREDTH CONGRESS For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Sales Office COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY ROBERT A. ROE, New Jersey, Chairman GEORGE E. BROWN, JR., California TIM VALENTINE, North Carolina ROBERT G. TORRICELLI, New Jersey LEE H. HAMILTON, Indiana DAVID E. PRICE, North Carolina JIMMY HAYES, Louisiana DAVID E. SKAGGS, Colorado PAUL E. KANJORSKI, Pennsylvania GEORGE J. HOCHBRUECKNER, New York MANUEL LUJAN, JR., New Mexico* CLAUDINE SCHNEIDER, Rhode Island DON RITTER, Pennsylvania SID MORRISON, Washington RON PACKARD, California ROBERT C. SMITH, New Hampshire HARRIS W. FAWELL, Illinois D. FRENCH SLAUGHTER, JR., Virginia ERNEST L. KONNYU, California CONSTANCE A. MORELLA, Maryland HARLAN L. WATSON, Republican Energy and Environmental Coordinator KITTY H. RISING, Republican Technical Consultant CONTENTS WITNESSES Opening statement of the Hon. Marilyn Lloyd, Chairman, Subcommittee on Energy Research and Development Opening statement of the Hon. Sid Morrison, Ranking Republican member, Subcommittee on Energy Research and Development.. Hon. Theodore J. Garrish, Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC; accompanied by Philip G. Sewell, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Uranium Enrichment...... 1989 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AUTHORIZATION TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1988 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY, Washington, DC. The Subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:07 p.m., in Room 2318, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Marilyn Lloyd (Chairman of the Subcommittee) presiding. Mrs. LLOYD. The Subcommittee will come to order. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. It's good to see you here this after noon. Before I make my statement, I must take care of an administrative detail, and pursuant to House rules, I must ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee permit today's proceedings to be recorded by the public, and hearing no objections, so ordered. Our hearing this afternoon will focus on the Department of Energy's proposed Fiscal Year 1989 budget for the Uranium Enrichment Program. This program over the last few years has been described at great risk, but so far has seemed to weather the perennial crisis with a persistence that has defied many of the doomsayers. Last year, I asked the Administration to run their computer program and fill in the blanks on a financial plan for the program. This would have shown any need for appropriations in excess of revenues; however, I have yet to receive any figures from them. Such an answer would clearly show whether or not the program can reasonably be expected to suffer financial problems in the future. I am puzzled by the fact that DOE has not replied, since I expected them to support their case to restructure the enrichment business. This year, the Administration has seen the light on the benefits of the laser enrichment program. Last year, it completely ignored this program in its formal written testimony, despite requesting zero funding for what was admitted to be an essential activity. This year, in a more reasonable gesture, the Administration proposes a $90 million Fiscal Year 1989 budget. This level is still recognized as too small by some $45 million to bring the laser technology to deployment by 1996. This shortage in proposed funding notwithstanding, I understand the Department wants to accelerate the deployment schedule to an early 1990's timeframe. This is a fine sentiment, yet I am a little (1) |