CONTENTS March 17, 1986 (Conservation and Renewable Energy and Fossil Energy).. April 29, 1986 (Nuclear Energy Programs and Nuclear Waste Activities)... May 5, 1986 (Nuclear Research and Development Programs)...... June 23, 1986 (Energy Research and Environment, Safety and Health)....... Bauer, Donald L., Acting Assistant Secretary, Fossil Energy, Department of Bazjanac, Vladimir, energy consultant... Bingaman, Hon. Jeff, a U.S. Senator from the State of New Mexico... 124 Holland, Dr. J. Read, director, School of Mines and Energy Development, Larsen, Dr. John W., on behalf of the American Chemical Society. Lawrence, Dr. L.R., Jr., vice president, technology development, Mechanical Lee, Dr. Bernard S., president, Institute of Gas Technology Ridgeway, Dr. Stuart L., program manager, R&D and Associates... Domenici, Hon. Pete V., a U.S. Senator from the State of New Mexico....... Hess, Col. George, USAF, Director, Survivability, Lethality & Key Technol- McClure, Hon. James A., a U.S. Senator from the State of Idaho. Rusche, Ben C., Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, Stello, Victor, Executive Director for Operations, Nuclear Regulatory Com- mission, accompanied by Robert B. Minogue, Director, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, and Dr. Charles Kelber, Associate Director for Scien- tific Programs, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research Vaughan, James W., Jr., Acting Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, Anderson, Edwyna G., chairperson, Subcommittee on Nuclear Waste Disposal, National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, and commission- Chernock, Warren P., vice president, advanced nuclear systems, nuclear 856 Dean, Dr. Richard A., senior vice president, GA Technologies, Inc. 847 767 797 Bradley, Hon. Bill, a U.S. Senator from the State of New Jersey. Dean, Dr. Stephen O., president, Fusion Power Associates... Dworkin, Dr. Howard J., chief, Department of Nuclear Medicine, William Beaumont Hospital, on behalf of the American College of Nuclear Physi- cians and the Society of Nuclear Medicine, accompanied by Dr. William Ashburn, University of California Medical Center, Department of Nuclear Medicine; Dr. Alfred P. Wolf, Department of Chemistry, Brookhaven Na- tional Laboratory; and Robert Wilbur, director of the Conjoint Washington Office of the Society and the College...... Evans, Hon. Daniel J., a U.S. Senator from the State of Washington Trivelpiece, Dr. Alvin W., Director, Office of Energy Research, Department of Walker, Mary L., Assistant Secretary, Environment, Safety and Health, De- partment of Energy, accompanied by Geoffrey Judge, Acting Director, Office of Budget and Administration, Environment, Safety and Health, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS-FISCAL YEAR 1987 (Conservation and Renewable Energy and Fossil Energy) MONDAY, MARCH 17, 1986 U.S. SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, Washington, DC. The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:10 p.m., in room SD-366, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Pete V. Domenici, presiding. Present: Senators Domenici, Hecht, Evans, and Ford. Also present: Marilyn Meigs, professional staff member; Benjamin S. Cooper, professional staff member for the minority; and James T. Bruce, counsel for the minority. Senator DOMENICI. The subcommittee will come to order. Thank you for being here, Senator, and we will try to expedite the hearing. OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. PETE V. DOMENICI, A U.S. Senator DOMENICI. Although the Department of Energy budget is nearly unchanged, $12.1 billion in fiscal year 1987 compared to $11.97 in fiscal year 1986, about a 1-percent increase over 1986, it seems that the programs supporting fossil fuel, solar and renewable energy and conservation are taking a substantial reduction, anywhere from 47 to 58 percent. Many believe that the priority of the proposed budget is shortsighted and does not reflect the priorities that Congress desires or that are good for the country. I understand we are under severe fiscal restraint, and clearly the office will try to have some balance in the energy programs. The R&D policy is one that should be within the limits of our foresight and should insure some stability in reducing dependence on foreign energy sources and should not be oscillating as much as the world oil prices which are out of our control. Cost effective R&D is essential. Ultimately it has the chance to provide us with adequate technologies, hopefully when we need them. Today our purpose is to take testimony in the hope that Congress and the administration, as we move through the year, can come up (1) with some changes in priorities that were in the President's budget so we will have a more balanced R&D program. [A prepared statement submitted for the record by Senator Bingaman follows:] STATEMENT BY SENATOR JEFF BINGAMAN Department of Energy Fiscal Year 1987 Budget Conservation, Renewable and Fossil Energy Programs March 17, 1986 I thank Senator Domenici and Senator Ford for holding this hearing to review the proposed budget for Conservation, Renewable, and Fossil Energy programs within the Department of Energy. The Administration has been trying for almost six years to decimate the worthwhile federal energy research and development initiatives in these areas. I have opposed this short-sighted policy in the past and will do so more vigorously now and in the future. It seems to me to be another example of the Administration's misplaced priorities. The magnitude of the cuts in the President's proposed budget are particularly unwise as we face a very uncertain energy future. The recent rapid decline in oil prices will inevitably mean greater dependence on imported crude oil and petroleum products and the displacement of domestic supplies. We see the continuing reduction in capital expenditures by the major oil companies in exploration and development activities and the permanent loss of low volume stripper wells by many of our own independents. Further, the volatility of the Middle East |