.
Energy and Water Development:
FY2016 Appropriations
Mark Holt
Specialist in Energy Policy
March 31, 2015
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
R43966
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Energy and Water Development: FY2016 Appropriations
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Summary
The Energy and Water Development appropriations bill provides funding for Army Corps of
Engineers (Corps) civil works projects, the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation
(Reclamation), and the Department of Energy (DOE), as well as the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) and several other independent agencies.
President Obama’s FY2016 budget request was released February 2, 2015. Including adjustments,
the request for Energy and Water Development agencies totaled $36.04 billion, compared with a
total of $34.27 billion appropriated for FY2015, an increase of 5.2%.
Final FY2015 Energy and Water Development funding was included in the Consolidated and
Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (H.R. 83, Division D). Energy and Water funding
totaled $519 million above the request and $653 million above FY2014, including rescissions.
The consolidated appropriations measure passed the House on December 11, 2014, and the
Senate on December 13, 2014, and was signed by the President on December 16, 2014 (P.L. 113235).
Major issues and initiatives in the FY2016 Energy and Water Development request include:
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Waters of the United States. The Corps would receive a $5 million increase to
assist in developing and implementing a controversial rulemaking to define
“waters of the United States”;
•
Energy and Water Development: FY2016 Appropriations
January 27, 2016
(R43966)
Jump to Main Text of Report
Summary
The Energy and Water Development appropriations bill provides funding for Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) civil works projects, the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), and the Department of Energy (DOE), as well as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and several other independent agencies. DOE typically accounts for about 80% of the bill's total funding.
President Obama's FY2016 budget request was released February 2, 2015. Including adjustments, the request for Energy and Water Development agencies totaled $36.04 billion, compared with a total of $34.78 billion appropriated for FY2015, an increase of 3.6%. The House approved its version of the FY2016 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill on May 1, 2015 (H.R. 2028, H.Rept. 114-91), and the Senate Appropriations Committee followed on May 21, 2015 (H.R. 2028, S.Rept. 114-54); both bills provided total budget authority of about $35.4 billion.
After lengthy negotiations, Congress enacted an omnibus funding measure on December 18, 2015, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (H.R. 2029, P.L. 114-113). The omnibus measure provided a total of $37.3 billion for energy and water programs for FY2016, an increase of 7.3% over FY2015.
Major Energy and Water Development funding highlights for FY2016 included
Waters of the United States. Language to block a controversial rulemaking to define "waters of the United States" was considered but not adopted;
Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing and Vehicles. DOE
’'s energy efficient
manufacturing research would
have more than
doubledoubled and research on energy efficient
vehicles would
rise 59% under the FY2016 budget request;
•
Nuclear Waste Management. Radioactive waste management funding would rise
52% in the Administration’s request, which proposes to develop “consent based”
alternatives to the statutorily authorized candidate disposal site at Yucca
Mountain, NV;
•
have risen 59% under the FY2016 budget request, but smaller increases were approved;
Nuclear Waste Management. The House approved $175 million for the statutorily authorized candidate disposal site at Yucca Mountain, NV, while the Senate Appropriations Committee would have authorized and funded an interim storage pilot facility, but none of those provisions were adopted;
ITER Fusion Reactor. Cost, schedule, and management concerns
have been
were raised about the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)
.
•
;
Nuclear Weapons Activities.
The Administration is seeking a 10.5% increase for
Congress approved the Administration's requested 10.7% increase for weapons activities and
a proposal to combine and transfer two counterterrorism programs
within DOE
’'s National Nuclear Security Administration
.
•
;
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Recovery. Efforts to resume operations at the
WIPP defense transuranic waste repository in New Mexico
would continue in
FY2016. Although overall WIPP funding would decline, the budget request
includes an increase for the recovery effort to resume waste shipments.
•
Surplus Plutonium Disposition. DOE requested level funding for a multibilliondollarare to continue in FY2016 with decreased total funding; and
Surplus Plutonium Disposition. Level funding was approved, as requested, for a multibillion-dollar plant to convert surplus nuclear weapons plutonium into civilian nuclear
reactor fuel, but an upcoming cost report could affect the congressional debate.
•
Energy-Water Nexus. DOE proposed a new Energy-Water Nexus crosscutting
activity for FY2016 that would analyze the relationships between energy and
water use and conduct research on water and energy systems.
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Energy and Water Development: FY2016 Appropriations
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Contents
Introduction and Overview .............................................................................................................. 1
Funding Issues and Initiatives.......................................................................................................... 2
Waters of the United States........................................................................................................ 2
Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing and Vehicles .................................................................... 2
Nuclear Waste Management ...................................................................................................... 3
International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor.................................................................. 3
Nuclear Weapons Activities ....................................................................................................... 3
Surplus Plutonium Disposition .................................................................................................. 3
Cleanup of DOE Nuclear Facilities ........................................................................................... 4
Energy-Water Nexus.................................................................................................................. 4
Bill Status and Recent Funding History........................................................................................... 4
Description of Major Energy and Water Programs .......................................................................... 5
Corps of Engineers .................................................................................................................... 6
Bureau of Reclamation .............................................................................................................. 7
Department of Energy ............................................................................................................... 9
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy ........................................................................ 10
Nuclear Energy .................................................................................................................. 12
Fossil Energy Research and Development ........................................................................ 12
Strategic Petroleum Reserve ............................................................................................. 13
Science .............................................................................................................................. 14
ARPA-E ............................................................................................................................. 15
Loan Guarantees and Direct Loans ................................................................................... 15
Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Stewardship .......................................................................... 16
Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation .................................................................................... 17
Cleanup of Former Nuclear Sites ...................................................................................... 18
Power Marketing Administrations .................................................................................... 19
Title IV: Independent Agencies...................................................................................................... 20
Congressional Hearings ................................................................................................................. 20
House ....................................................................................................................................... 21
Senate ...................................................................................................................................... 21
Figures
Figure 1. Major Components of Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill ................... 1
Tables
Table 1. Status of Energy and Water Development Appropriations, FY2016.................................. 4
Table 2. Energy and Water Development Appropriations, FY2008 to FY2016 .............................. 5
Table 3. Energy and Water Development Appropriations Summary ............................................... 5
Table 4. Army Corps of Engineers................................................................................................... 7
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Table 5. Bureau of Reclamation....................................................................................................... 8
Table 6. Department of Energy ........................................................................................................ 9
Table 7. Independent Agencies Funded by Energy and Water Development
Appropriations ............................................................................................................................ 20
Contacts
Author Contact Information........................................................................................................... 22
Key Policy Staff ............................................................................................................................. 22
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Introduction and Overview
The Energy and Water Development appropriations bill includes funding for civil works projects
of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), the Department of the Interior’s Central Utah
Project (CUP) and Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), the Department of Energy (DOE), and
a number of independent agencies, including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the
Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).
President Obama’s FY2016 budget request, released February 2, 2015, would provide $36.04
billion for agencies in the Energy and Water Development bill—5.2% above the $34.27 billion
appropriated for FY2015. The FY2016 request for DOE was up by 9.2%, led by a proposed
13.0% increase in energy programs. The Corps would be reduced by 13.2%, and the Bureau of
Reclamation would receive a 3.0% cut. Figure 1 shows the major components of the Energy and
Water Development bill.
Figure 1. Major Components of Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill
Source: Agency budget justifications, congressional appropriations explanatory statements.
Final FY2015 Energy and Water Development funding was included in the Consolidated and
Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (H.R. 83). Energy and Water funding totaled $519
million above the request and $653 million above FY2014, including rescissions. The
consolidated appropriations measure passed the House on December 11, 2014, and the Senate on
December 13, 2014, and was signed by the President on December 16, 2014 (P.L. 113-235).
Congressional consideration of the annual Energy and Water Development appropriations bill is
affected by the procedural and statutory budget enforcement to which the bill is subject. The
procedural budget enforcement is primarily through limits associated with the budget resolution
on total discretionary spending and spending under the jurisdiction of each appropriations
subcommittee. Statutory budget enforcement is derived from the Budget Control Act of 2011
(BCA; P.L. 112-25).
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The BCA established limits on defense and nondefense discretionary spending. These limits are
in effect each of the fiscal years between FY2012 and FY2021, and are primarily enforced by an
automatic spending reduction process called sequestration. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013
(P.L. 113-67) established higher levels for the FY2014 and FY2015 spending limits than what
would have otherwise been in effect. The original BCA process to calculate the limits is again in
effect starting in FY2016. The President’s FY2016 budget proposed to increase the existing levels
of the discretionary spending limits by a total of about $74 billion, divided between defense
($37.9 billion) and nondefense ($37.5 billion) spending. The Energy and Water Development bill
includes both defense and nondefense spending.
Funding Issues and Initiatives
The Obama Administration’s FY2016 budget request included several significant initiatives and
funding changes that could be the subject of debate in the 114th Congress. The issues highlighted
in this section—listed approximately in the order they appear in the Energy and Water
Development bill—were selected based on the total funding involved, the percentage of the
proposed increase or decrease, the level of controversy involved, and their impact on broader
public policy considerations.
Waters of the United States
The Corps would receive a $5 million increase for Clean Water Act (CWA) rulemaking activities,
including developing a final rule to define “waters of the United States.” Waters under CWA
jurisdiction are subject to CWA regulatory requirements; for example, they cannot be dredged or
reactor fuel.For FY2015, appropriations for Energy and Water Development programs were included in the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (H.R. 83, Division D). For details, see CRS Report R43567, Energy and Water Development: FY2015 Appropriations, coordinated by [author name scrubbed].
Energy and Water Development: FY2016 Appropriations
Introduction and Overview
The Energy and Water Development appropriations bill includes funding for civil works projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), the Department of the Interior's Central Utah Project (CUP) and Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), the Department of Energy (DOE), and a number of independent agencies, including the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).
President Obama's FY2016 budget request, released February 2, 2015, would have provided $36.04 billion for agencies in the Energy and Water Development bill—3.6% above the $34.78 billion appropriated for FY2015.1 The FY2016 request for DOE was up by 8.4%, led by a proposed 13.0% increase in energy programs. The Corps would have been reduced by 13.2%, and the Bureau of Reclamation would have received a 3.0% cut. Figure 1 compares the major components of the Energy and Water Development bill.
Figure 1. Major Components of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill
|
Sources: Agency budget justifications, congressional appropriations explanatory statements, Congressional Budget Office. Includes some rescissions and other adjustments.
|
The House approved its version of the FY2016 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill (H.R. 2028, H.Rept. 114-91) May 1, 2015, by a vote of 244-177. Total funding in the bill, including rescissions, was $35.4 billion, 1.8% below the Administration's request. The House provided $5.64 billion for the Corps, 19.2% above the request, and $28.97 billion for DOE, 5.1% below the request. The House total for the Bureau of Reclamation was nearly the same as the request.
The Senate Appropriations Committee reported its version of H.R. 2028 (S.Rept. 114-54) on May 21, 2015. Total funding in the bill was $35.37 billion, including rescissions, slightly below the House-passed level. Compared with the House level, the Senate committee bill increased DOE funding by $333 million (1.2%) and decreased the Corps by $268 million (4.7%). The Senate measure did not include the House amendments discussed below.
Congress enacted an omnibus funding measure for the entire federal government on December 18, 2015, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (P.L. 114-113). The omnibus measure provided a total of $37.3 billion for energy and water programs for FY2016, an increase of 7.3% over FY2015. Funding in the omnibus measure included $29.7 billion for DOE (up 5.7%), $6.0 billion for the Corps (up 9.8%), $1.3 billion for Reclamation (up 11.8%), and $342 million for independent agencies (up 27.0%).2
President Obama strongly opposed the House Appropriations Committee bill in an April 28, 2015, Statement of Administration Policy. The Administration particularly criticized the bill's reductions in the President's budget request for energy efficiency and renewable energy and strongly objected to a prohibition on the Corps rulemaking on the definition of "waters of the United States." According to the Administration statement, the President's senior advisors would have recommended a veto of the House Committee bill.3
Several amendments generated substantial debate and were adopted by the House after recorded votes:
- Prohibiting DOE from using funds in the bill to enforce light bulb efficiency standards. Offered by Representative Michael C. Burgess; adopted 232-189. This prohibition was included in Division D, Sec. 312 of P.L. 114-113.
- Prohibiting DOE from using a report on lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions when making determinations on liquefied natural gas exports. Offered by Representative Keith J. Rothfus; adopted 232-172. It was not included in P.L. 110-114.
- Prohibiting funds in the bill from being used for DOE's Climate Model Development and Validation program. Offered by Representative Paul A. Gosar; adopted 224-184. It was not included in P.L. 110-114.
- Prohibiting funds in the bill from being used to purchase water to meet stream flow requirements in California. Offered by Representative Tom McClintock; adopted 228-183. It was not included in P.L. 110-114.
- Prohibiting funds in the bill from being used to limit Clean Water Act exemptions for certain agricultural activities. Offered by Representative Doug LaMalfa; adopted 239-174. Similar language was included in Division D, Sec. 110 of P.L. 114-113.
- Prohibiting funds in the bill from being used to deliver water to the Trinity River above minimum requirements or to supplement flows in the Klamath River. Offered by Representative Doug LaMalfa; adopted 228-183. It was not included in P.L. 110-114.
Congressional consideration of the annual Energy and Water Development appropriations bill is affected by certain procedural and statutory budget enforcement measures. The procedural budget enforcement is primarily through limits associated with the budget resolution on total discretionary spending and spending under the jurisdiction of each appropriations subcommittee. Statutory budget enforcement is derived from the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA; P.L. 112-25).
The BCA established limits on defense and nondefense discretionary spending. These limits are in effect for each of the fiscal years between FY2012 and FY2021, and are primarily enforced by an automatic spending reduction process called sequestration. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 (P.L. 113-67) established higher levels for the FY2014 and FY2015 spending limits than what would have otherwise been in effect. The original BCA process to calculate the limits would have again become effective starting in FY2016, but higher limits were enacted by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-74).
(For more information on discretionary spending limits, see CRS Report CRS Report R44062, Congressional Action on FY2016 Appropriations Measures, by [author name scrubbed].)
For FY2015, appropriations for Energy and Water Development programs were included in the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (H.R. 83). Energy and Water funding totaled $519 million above the request and $653 million above FY2014, including rescissions. The consolidated appropriations measure passed the House on December 11, 2014, and the Senate on December 13, 2014, and was signed by the President on December 16, 2014 (P.L. 113-235). For details, see CRS Report CRS Report R43567, Energy and Water Development: FY2015 Appropriations, coordinated by [author name scrubbed].
Funding Issues and Initiatives
The Administration's FY2016 Energy and Water Development appropriations request and subsequent congressional action have highlighted several significant areas of debate. The issues described in this section—listed approximately in the order they appear in the Energy and Water Development bill—were selected based on the total funding involved and the percentage of increases or decreases, the amount of congressional attention, and their impact on broader public policy considerations.
Waters of the United States
The Corps requested but did not receive a $5 million increase for Clean Water Act (CWA) rulemaking activities, including developing a final rule to define "waters of the United States (WOTUS)" jointly with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While FY2016 funding was being considered in Congress, the Corps and EPA promulgated the final rule on June 29, 2015.4 Waters under CWA jurisdiction are subject to CWA regulatory requirements; for example, they cannot be dredged or filled without a Corps permit. H.R. 2028, as approved by the House, would have barred the Corps from developing, adopting, implementing, or enforcing any change to rules or guidance pertaining to the CWA definition of "waters of the United States," but the restriction was not included in the Senate bill or the final omnibus act. Similar provisions were included in proposed FY2015 appropriations bill language during the 113th Congress, but were not enacted. filled without a Corps permit. For more information, see CRS Report
R43455, EPA and the Army
Corps’ Proposed Rule to Define “Waters of the United States”, by Claudia Copeland.
R43943, EPA and the Army Corps' "Waters of the United States" Rule: Congressional Response and Options, by [author name scrubbed].
Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing and Vehicles
DOE’
DOE's energy efficient manufacturing research funding would
have more than
doubledoubled under the Administration request, with most of
the increase going to the establishment of two new Clean Energy Manufacturing Institutes as part
of the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation.
15 Research on energy efficient vehicles
would
risehave risen 59% under the FY2016 budget request. The main activity increased under the vehicles
program would
behave been the Electric Vehicle Everywhere Grand Challenge Program, a 10-year program
announced in March 2012 to encourage production of cost-competitive plug-in electric vehicles.
The funding
isrequest was included in DOE
’'s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy program, which
would
seehave seen a total increase of 42%, from $1.914 billion in FY2015 to $2.723 billion in FY2016.
Similar increases proposed by the Obama Administration in recent years have mostly been
rejected by Congress.
1
For details, see CRS Report R42625, The Obama Administration’s Proposal to Establish a National Network for
Manufacturing Innovation, by John F. Sargent Jr.
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Nuclear Waste Management
The proposed increases were largely rejected by the House and by the Senate committee. The enacted omnibus funding measure provided $2.073 billion for energy efficiency and renewables, including a 14% increase in manufacturing research and a 10% boost in vehicle technologies.
Nuclear Waste Management
Funding for the disposition of highly radioactive
“"spent,
”" or
“"used,
”" fuel from nuclear power
plants would
risehave risen 52%—from $71.5 million to $108.4 million—in the Administration
’'s request.
The additional funding would
expand DOE’have expanded DOE's efforts to develop a
“"consent based
”" waste
management system as an alternative to a planned repository at Yucca Mountain, NV, which the
Administration is no longer pursuing.
The House, however, has regularly included funding to
resume the Yucca Mountain project in its versions of the Energy and Water Development
appropriations bill, although the funding has been routinely stripped by the Senate. With control
of the Senate changing in the 114th Congress, the dynamics of the nuclear waste debate could be
affectedBut the House, as it has in the past, rejected funding for the Administration's nuclear waste management program and provided $175 million to continue the Yucca Mountain licensing process. Following the pattern of recent years, the Senate committee did not include funding for Yucca Mountain but authorized a pilot consolidated nuclear waste surface storage facility. The omnibus funding measure provided $85 million for used nuclear fuel disposition but did not include the House funding for Yucca Mountain or the Senate Committee pilot storage facility. For more information, see CRS Report RL33461, Civilian Nuclear Waste Disposal
, by [author name scrubbed].
, by
Mark Holt.
International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor
The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), under construction in France,
continues to
raisedraw congressional concerns about management, schedule, and cost. The United
States is to pay 9.09% of the project
’'s construction costs, including contributions of components,
cash, and personnel. The total U.S. share of the cost is currently estimated at between $4.0 billion
and $6.5 billion, up from $1.45 billion to $2.2 billion in 2008. The Administration
’'s proposed
U.S. contribution for FY2016 was $150.0 million, the same as
inthe FY2015
.
Nuclear Weapons Activities
level. The House approved the Administration request, while warning that future support would depend on management reform. The Senate committee proposed eliminating ITER funding. P.L. 114-113 provided $115 million, along with reporting requirements on the project's schedule and management.
Nuclear Weapons Activities
Maintaining U.S. nuclear bombs and missile warheads is the responsibility of DOE
’'s National
Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). The Administration requested $8.85 billion for
NNSA’ NNSA's Weapons Activities in FY2016, a 10.
57% increase over the comparable funding level in
FY2015.
TheFor FY2016, the Administration proposed to combine two
NNSA counterterrorism programs
in
FY2016that had been located in Weapons Activities—Nuclear Counterterrorism Incident Response, and Counterterrorism and
Counterproliferation—and transfer them to Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, also run by
NNSA.
Surplus Plutonium Disposition
After Congress rejected NNSA. P.L. 114-113 provided the Administration
’s proposal for FY2015 to place a controversial surplus
plutonium disposition facility in South Carolina on “cold standby,” DOE requested level funding
for the project in FY2016. 's full request for Weapons Activities, including the transfer and consolidation of the counterterrorism and counterproliferation programs.
Surplus Plutonium Disposition
The Mixed-Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF), which would
make fuel for nuclear reactors out of surplus weapons plutonium, has faced sharply escalating
construction and operation cost estimates.
DOE is to complete a congressionally mandated study
After Congress rejected the Administration's proposal for FY2015 to place the controversial South Carolina project in "cold standby," DOE requested level funding of $345 million for continued construction in FY2016. DOE completed a congressionally mandated study of MFFF and a potentially less expensive alternative plutonium disposal method during FY2015,
which could affect the congressional debate on the FY2016 funding request and the direction of
the program to dilute the surplus plutonium for disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico. P.L. 114-113 provided $340 million for MFFF construction, plus $5 million for planning and design of the "dilute and dispose" option. For more information, see CRS Report R43125, Mixed-Oxide Fuel Fabrication
Plant and Plutonium Disposition: Management and Policy Issues
, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].
, by Mark Holt and Mary Beth
D. Nikitin.
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Cleanup of DOE Nuclear Facilities
DOE’
DOE's Office of Environmental Management (EM)
, which is responsible for environmental
cleanup and waste management at the Department
’'s nuclear facilities
, would face an overall
funding decrease of $43 million, although some sites would see an increase. The nearly flat
funding—$5.82 billion in FY2016 compared with $5.86 billion in FY2015—would be coupled
. P.L. 114-113 provided $6.22 billion for EM, a $400 million increase above the request of $5.82 billion, but did not fund a request of $472 million for the federal contribution to the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund. The nearly flat funding request—$5.82 billion requested in FY2016 compared with $5.86 billion enacted in FY2015—would have been coupled with efforts by DOE to negotiate changes in its environmental compliance requirements that
could modify cleanup milestones at some sites, according to DOE
’'s budget justification. The
milestones are specified in enforceable environmental compliance agreements among DOE, the
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), and the states. DOE called for similar milestone
renegotiations in its FY2015 budget justification.
Efforts
DOE efforts to resume operations at
the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico would
continue in FY2016.WIPP have continued in FY2016. DOE plans to resume limited waste disposal operations sometime in the first quarter of calendar year 2016.6 WIPP is the centralized geologic repository for the permanent disposal of
transuranic wastes generated at other DOE sites. WIPP operations ceased after two incidents in
February 2014, one involving a truck fire and the other involving a radiological release.
The
FY2016 request of $243 million for WIPP is $77 million less than the FY2015 enacted
appropriations of $320 million. The decrease is primarily due to the current cessation of waste
disposal operations, although the request includes an increase for safety projects for the recovery
effort to resume waste shipments.
Energy-Water Nexus
P.L. 114-113 provided $300 million for WIPP within the Environmental Management appropriation, of which $82 million was allocated to recovery activities. The total FY2016 appropriation for WIPP is $57 million above the request of $243 million, and $20 million below the FY2015 appropriation of $320 million.
Energy-Water Nexus
DOE proposed a new Energy-Water Nexus crosscutting activity for FY2016 that would analyze
the relationships between energy and water use and conduct research on water and energy
systems. In justifying the new activity, DOE noted that energy is a major user of the nation
’s
's water and that extraction, distribution, and treatment of water requires large amounts of energy.
DOE offices that would be involved in this crosscut include Energy Policy and Systems Analysis,
International Affairs, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Fossil Energy, Indian Energy
Policy and Programs, and Science. Funding for Energy-Water Nexus activities, to be provided
through existing program offices, would total $38.4 million in FY2016.
The initiative is currently being implemented by the Secretary of Energy's Water-Energy Tech Team,7 although it was not specifically mentioned in P.L. 114-113. For more information, For more information,
see CRS Report R43200, Energy-Water Nexus: The Water Sector
’'s Energy Use
, by [author name scrubbed], by Claudia
Copeland, and CRS Report R43199, Energy-Water Nexus: The Energy Sector
’'s Water Use
, by [author name scrubbed].
, by
Nicole T. Carter.
Bill Status and Recent Funding History
Table 1 indicates the
statussteps taken during consideration of the FY2016 funding legislation
and will be filled in as events
occur.
.
Table 1. Status of Energy and Water Development Appropriations, FY2016
(budget authority in billions of current dollars)
Subcommittee
Markup
House
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Senate
House
Report
Congressional Research Service
House
Passage
Senate
Report
Senate
Passage
Conf.
Report
Final Approval
House
Senate
Public
Law
4
Energy and Water Development: FY2016 Appropriations
.
Table 2 includes budget totals for energy and water development appropriations enacted for
FY2008 to FY2015, and the FY2016 request.
Table 2. Energy and Water Development Appropriations,
FY2008 to FY2016
(budget authority in billions of current dollars)
FY2008
FY2009
FY2010
FY2011
FY2012
FY2013
FY2014
FY2015
FY2016
Request
30.9
40.5a
33.4
31.7
34.4b
36.0c
34.1
34.8
36.0
Source: Compiled by CRS.
Note: Figures exclude permanent budget authorities and reflect rescissions.
a.
Includes $7.5 billion for Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program.
b.
Includes $1.7 billion in emergency funding for the Corps of Engineers.
c.
Includes $5.4 billion in emergency funding for the Corps of Engineers.
Description of Major Energy and Water Programs
The annual Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill includes four titles: Title I—
Corps of Engineers—Civil; Title II—Department of the Interior (Central Utah Project and Bureau
of Reclamation); Title III—Department of Energy; and Title IV—Independent Agencies, as
shown in Table 3. Major programs in the bill are described in this section in the approximate
order they appear in the bill. Funding details for many of these programs are provided in separate
CRS reports as indicated.
Table 3. Energy and Water Development Appropriations Summary
(budget authority in millions of current dollars)
FY2013
Approp.
Title
Title I: Corps of Engineers
Title II: CUP and
Reclamation
Title III: Department of
Energy
Title IV: Independent
Agencies
Scorekeeping Adjustmentsb
E&W Total
FY2014
Approp.
FY2015
Approp.
10,068.2a
5,467.5
5,482.5
4,732.0
1,014.0
1,113.1
1,140.5
1,106.0
25,160.7
27,355.5
28,152.9
29923.4
252.2
265.1
269.0
281.3
-525.5
-74.4
-264.6
34,126.8
34,780.3
35,969.6a
FY2016
Request
FY2016
House
FY2016
Senate
36,043.4
Source:
|
Subcommittee Markup
|
House Report
|
House Passed
|
Senate Report
|
Senate Passed
|
Conf. Report
|
Final Approval
|
Public Law
|
House
|
Senate
|
House
|
Senate
|
4/15/2015
|
5/19/2015
|
4/24/2015
|
5/1/2015
|
5/21/2015
|
12/18/2015
|
12/18/2015
|
12/18/2015
|
Table 2 includes budget totals for energy and water development appropriations enacted for FY2008 through FY2016.
Table 2. Energy and Water Development Appropriations,FY2008 to FY2016
(budget authority in billions of current dollars)
|
FY2008
|
FY2009
|
FY2010
|
FY2011
|
FY2012
|
FY2013
|
FY2014
|
FY2015
|
FY2016
|
30.9
|
40.5a
33.4
|
31.7
|
34.4b
36.0c
34.1
|
34.8
|
37.3
|
Source: Compiled by CRS.
Notes: Figures exclude permanent budget authorities and reflect rescissions.
a.
Includes $7.5 billion for Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program.
b.
Includes $1.7 billion in emergency funding for the Corps of Engineers.
c.
Includes $5.4 billion in emergency funding for the Corps of Engineers.
Description of Major Energy and Water Programs
The annual Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill includes four titles: Title I—Corps of Engineers—Civil; Title II—Department of the Interior (Central Utah Project and Bureau of Reclamation); Title III—Department of Energy; and Title IV—Independent Agencies, as shown in Table 3. Major programs in the bill are described in this section in the approximate order they appear in the bill. Funding details for many of these programs are provided in separate CRS reports as indicated.
Table 3. Energy and Water Development Appropriations Summary
(budget authority in millions of current dollars)
|
Title
|
FY2014 Approp.
|
FY2015 Approp.
|
FY2016 Request
|
FY2016 House
|
FY2016 S.Com
|
FY2016 omnibus
|
Title I: Corps of Engineers
|
Title II: CUP and Reclamation
|
Title III: Department of Energy
|
Title IV: Independent Agencies
|
Subtotal
|
Rescissions and Scorekeeping Adjustmentsa
E&W Total
|
Source: Administration budget requests,
H.Rept. 113-486, S.Rept. 114-54, Congressional Budget Office, H.R. 2029 explanatory statement, https://www.congress.gov/crec/2015/12/17/CREC-2015-12-17-bk2.pdf.
a.
Budget "scorekeeping"H.Rept. 113-486, Congressional Budget Office, Senate Appropriations
Committee.
a.
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Includes $5.35 billion in supplemental funding for the Corps of Engineers under the Disaster Relief
Appropriations Act, 2013 (P.L. 113-2).
Congressional Research Service
5
Energy and Water Development: FY2016 Appropriations
.
b.
Budget “scorekeeping” refers to official determinations of spending amounts for congressional budget
enforcement purposes. These scorekeeping adjustments
may include offsetting revenues from various
sources.
Corps of Engineers
sources and rescissions.
b.
The grand total in the Explanatory Statement includes $26.9 million in rescissions but excludes $111.1 million in additional scorekeeping adjustments that would reduce the grand total to $37.185 billion, the subcommittee allocation shown in S.Rept. 114-197. See Senate Committee on Appropriations, Comparative Statement of New Budget Authority FY2016, January 12, 2016, p. 11.
Corps of Engineers
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is an agency in the Department of Defense with both military
and civilian responsibilities. Under its civil works program, which is funded by the Energy and
Water Appropriations bill, the Corps plans, builds, operates, and maintains a wide range of water
resources facilities. Corps appropriations are generally authorized in water resources development
acts. Most recently, Congress enacted a new water resources development act in June
of 2014, the
Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014 (WRRDA, P.L. 113-121). This bill
authorized new Corps projects and studies and altered numerous Corps policies and procedures.
2
8
Corps funding is part of the
ongoing debate over congressionally directed spending, or
“"earmarks.
”" Unlike
highways and municipal water infrastructure programs, federal funds for the Corps are not
distributed to states or projects based on a formula or delivered via competitive grants. Generally
about 85% of the appropriations for Corps civil works activities are directed to specific projects.
In addition to specific projects identified for funding in the President
’'s budget, for decades
Congress annually identified during the discretionary appropriations process many additional
Corps projects to receive funding.
39 In the
112th112th Congress, site-specific project line items added by
Congress (i.e., earmarks) became subject to House and Senate earmark moratorium policies. As a
result, Congress generally has not added funding at the project level since FY2010. In lieu of the
traditional project-based increases, Congress has included
“"additional funding
”" for select
categories of Corps projects (e.g.,
“"ongoing navigation work
”"), and provided direction and
limitations on the use of these funds.4
2
For detailed background on the Corps, see CRS Report R43298, Water Resources Reform and Development Act of
2014: Comparison of Select Provisions, by Nicole T. Carter et al.
3
While congressional earmarks make up a relatively small percentage of most agency budgets, a significant number of
Corps projects historically received additional funding from Congress for construction or operational expenditures.
4
Congress provided additional funding and guidance for several broad categories of projects in the FY2015
consolidated appropriations Explanatory Statement. The FY2014 statement instructed the Corps to make additional
project level allocations in a “work plan” and report back to Congress. Some of the categories to be funded in the work
plan were designated by Congress as only being available for projects which were not included in the Administration’s
budget request. Recent Work Plan allocations through FY2015 are available at http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/
CivilWorks/Budget.aspx.
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Table 4. Army Corps of Engineers
(budget authority in millions of current dollars)
FY2013
Approp.
FY2013
Supplement
118.5
50.0
125.0
122.0
97.0
1,586.6
3,461.0
1,656.0
1,639.5
1,172.0
Mississippi River and
Tributaries (MR&T)
238.0
0.0
307.0
302.0
225.0
Operation and
Maintenance (O&M)
2,286.0
821.0
2,861.0
2,908.5
2,710.6
Regulatory
182.9
0.0
200.0
200.0
205.0
General Expenses
175.3
0.0
182.0
178.0
180.0
FUSRAPa
99.9
0.0
103.5
101.5
104.0
Flood Control and
Coastal Emergencies
(FC&CE)
25.6
1,008.0
28.0
28.0
34.0
4.6
10.0
5.0
3.0
5.0
Program
Investigations and
Planning
Construction
Office of the Asst.
Secretary of the
Army
FY2014
Approp.
Rescission
Total Title I
FY2015
Approp.
FY2016
Request
FY2016
House
FY2016
Senate
-28.0
4,717.4
5,350.0
5,467.5
5,454.5
4,732.6
Source: FY2016 budget request and Work Plans for FY2013, FY2014, and FY2015; supplemental appropriations
based on funding provided in P.L. 113-2.
a.
Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program.
Bureau of Reclamation
Most of the large dams and water diversion structures in the West were built by, or with the
assistance of, the Bureau of Reclamation. While the Army Corps of Engineers built hundreds of
flood control and navigation projects, Reclamation’s mission was to develop water supplies,
primarily for irrigation to reclaim arid lands in the West.
Today, Reclamation manages hundreds of dams and diversion projects, including more than 300
storage reservoirs in 17 western states. These projects provide water to approximately 10 million
acres of farmland and a population of 31 million. Reclamation is the largest wholesale supplier of
water in the 17 western states and the second-largest hydroelectric power producer in the nation.
Reclamation facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife
benefits. Operations of Reclamation facilities are often controversial, particularly for their effect
on fish and wildlife species and conflicts among competing water users.
As with the Corps of Engineers, the Reclamation budget is made up largely of individual project
funding lines and relatively few “programs.” Also similar to the Corps, previously these
Reclamation projects have often been subject to earmark disclosure rules. The current
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.
moratorium on earmarks restricts congressional steering of money directly toward specific
Reclamation projects as had been done in the past.
Reclamation’s single largest account, Water and Related Resources, encompasses the agency’s
traditional programs and projects, including construction, operations and maintenance, dam
safety, and ecosystem restoration, among others.5 Reclamation also typically requests funds in a
number of smaller accounts, and has proposed additional accounts in recent years. Congress has
provided Reclamation additional appropriations in recent years to address drought conditions in
the West, including $50 million in additional funding for Western Drought Response in FY2015.
Implementation and oversight of the Central Utah Project (CUP) is conducted by a separate office
from Reclamation within the Department of the Interior. The Administration has proposed for
several years to shift those responsibilities to Reclamation.
Table 5. Bureau of Reclamation
(budget authority in millions of current dollars)
FY2013
Approp.
FY2014
Approp.
848.2
954.1
978.1
805.1
Policy and Administration
56.9
60.0
58.5
59.5
CVP Restoration Fund
(CVPRF)
50.4
53.3
57.0
49.5
Calif. Bay-Delta (CALFED)
37.6
37.0
37.0
37.0
San Joaquin Restoration
Funda
-
-
-
35.0
Indian Water Rights
Settlementa
-
-
-
112.4
Program
Water and Related
Resources
FY2015
Approp.
Rescission
Gross Current
Reclamation Authority
Central Utah Project (CUP)
Completion
Total, Title II Current
Authority (CUP and
Reclamation)
FY2016
Request
FY2016
House
FY2016
Senate
-.5
993.0
1,104.4
1,130.1
1,098.5
21.0
8.7
9.9
7.3
1,014.0
1,113.1
1,140.0
1,105.8
Source: FY2016 budget request, H.R. 83 Explanatory Statement.
Notes: Totals may not add due to rounding. CVP: Central Valley Project.
a.
As in previous requests, the Administration’s request includes funding for these items, which have in
the past been funded within the Water and Related Resources Account, as new accounts. For FY2015,
5
The Water and Related Resources Account is largely funded by the Reclamation Fund, which receives and distributes
receipts related to a number of federal activities (including royalties received from oil and gas leasing on federal lands).
For more on this fund and financing of selected Reclamation Projects, see CRS Report R41844, The Reclamation
Fund: A Primer, by Charles V. Stern.
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the House and the Senate subcommittee again rejected the Administration’s proposal for these new
accounts. The FY2016 request shows FY2015 appropriations under these categories for comparability.
Department of Energy
The Energy and Water Development bill has funded all DOE’s programs since FY2005. Major
DOE activities include research and development (R&D) on renewable energy, energy efficiency,
nuclear power, and fossil energy, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, energy statistics, general
science, environmental cleanup, and nuclear weapons programs. Table 6 provides the recent
funding history for DOE programs, which are briefly described further below. DOE’s full budget
limitations on the use of these funds.10
For more information, see CRS In Focus IF10176, Army Corps of Engineers: FY2016 Appropriations, by [author name scrubbed].
Table 4. Army Corps of Engineers
(budget authority in millions of current dollars)
|
Program
|
FY2014 Approp.
|
FY2015 Approp.
|
FY2016 Request
|
FY2016 House
|
FY2016 S.Com.
|
FY2016 omnibus
|
|
Investigations and Planning
|
125.0
|
122.0
|
97.0
|
113.5
|
109.0
|
121.0
|
|
Construction
|
1,656.0
|
1,639.5
|
1,172.0
|
1,635.0
|
1,641.0
|
1,862.3
|
|
Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T)
|
307.0
|
302.0
|
225.0
|
275.0
|
330.0
|
345.0
|
|
Operation and Maintenance (O&M)
|
2,861.0
|
2,908.5
|
2,710.0
|
3,094.3
|
2.909.0
|
3,137.0
|
|
Regulatory
|
200.0
|
200.0
|
205.0
|
199.6
|
200.0
|
200.0
|
|
General Expenses
|
182.0
|
178.0
|
180.0
|
179.0
|
178.0
|
179.0
|
FUSRAPa
103.5
|
101.5
|
104.0
|
104.0
|
101.5
|
112.0
|
|
Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies (FC&CE)
|
28.0
|
28.0
|
34.0
|
34.0
|
28.0
|
28.0
|
|
Office of the Asst. Secretary of the Army
|
5.0
|
3.0
|
5.0
|
4.8
|
3.0
|
4.8
|
Rescission
|
-28.0
|
-128.0
|
|
Total Title I
|
5,467.5
|
5,454.5
|
4,732.0
|
5,639.1
|
5,371.5
|
5,989
|
Source: FY2016 budget request and Work Plans for FY2013, FY2014, and FY2015; S.Rept. 114-54; P.L. 113-2; H.R. 2029 explanatory statement.
a.
Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program.
Bureau of Reclamation
Most of the large dams and water diversion structures in the West were built by, or with the assistance of, the Bureau of Reclamation. While the Army Corps of Engineers built hundreds of flood control and navigation projects, Reclamation's mission was to develop water supplies, primarily for irrigation to reclaim arid lands in the West for farming and ranching.
Today, Reclamation manages hundreds of dams and diversion projects, including more than 300 storage reservoirs in 17 western states. These projects provide water to approximately 10 million acres of farmland and a population of 31 million. Reclamation is the largest wholesale supplier of water in the 17 western states and the second-largest hydroelectric power producer in the nation. Reclamation facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits. Operations of Reclamation facilities are often controversial, particularly for their effect on fish and wildlife species and conflicts among competing water users.
As with the Corps of Engineers, the Reclamation budget is made up largely of individual project funding lines and relatively few "programs." Also similar to the Corps, these Reclamation projects have often been subject to earmark disclosure rules. The current moratorium on earmarks restricts congressional steering of money directly toward specific Reclamation projects as had been done in the past.
Reclamation's single largest account, Water and Related Resources, encompasses the agency's traditional programs and projects, including construction, operations and maintenance, dam safety, and ecosystem restoration, among others.11 Reclamation also typically requests funds in a number of smaller accounts, and has proposed additional accounts in recent years. Congress has provided Reclamation additional appropriations in recent years to address drought conditions in the West, including $50 million in additional funding for Western Drought Response in FY2015.
Implementation and oversight of the Central Utah Project (CUP) is conducted by a separate office from Reclamation within the Department of the Interior. The Administration has proposed for several years to shift those responsibilities to Reclamation.
For more information, see CRS In Focus IF10175, Bureau of Reclamation: FY2016 Appropriations, by [author name scrubbed].
Table 5. Bureau of Reclamation
(budget authority in millions of current dollars)
|
Program
|
FY2013 Approp.
|
FY2014 Approp.
|
FY2015 Approp.
|
FY2016 Request
|
FY2016 House
|
FY2016 S.Com.
|
FY2016 omnibus
|
|
Water and Related Resources
|
848.2
|
954.1
|
978.1
|
805.2
|
950.7
|
988.1
|
1,119,0
|
|
Policy and Administration
|
56.9
|
60.0
|
58.5
|
59.5
|
59.5
|
58.5
|
59.5
|
|
CVP Restoration Fund (CVPRF)
|
50.4
|
53.3
|
57.0
|
49.5
|
49.5
|
49.5
|
49.5
|
|
Calif. Bay-Delta (CALFED)
|
37.6
|
37.0
|
37.0
|
37.0
|
37.0
|
37.0
|
37.0
|
|
San Joaquin Restoration Funda
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
35.0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
Indian Water Rights Settlementa
-
|
-
|
-
|
112.5
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Rescission
|
0
|
0
|
-.5
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Gross Current Reclamation Authority
|
993.0
|
1,104.4
|
1,130.1
|
1,098.7
|
1,096.7
|
1,133.2
|
1,265.0
|
|
Central Utah Project (CUP) Completion
|
21.0
|
8.7
|
9.9
|
7.3
|
9.9
|
9.9
|
10.0
|
|
Total, Title II Current Authority (CUP and Reclamation)
|
1,014.0
|
1,113.1
|
1,140.0
|
1,106.0
|
1,106.5
|
1,143.0
|
1,275.0
|
Source: FY2016 budget request, H.R. 83 Explanatory Statement, S.Rept. 114-54, H.R. 2029 explanatory statement.
Notes: Totals may not add due to rounding. CVP: Central Valley Project.
a.
As in previous requests, the Administration's request includes funding for these items, which have in the past been funded within the Water and Related Resources Account, as new accounts. For FY2015, the House and the Senate subcommittee again rejected the Administration's proposal for these new accounts. The FY2016 request shows FY2015 appropriations under these categories for comparability.
Department of Energy
The Energy and Water Development bill has funded all DOE programs since FY2005. Major DOE activities include research and development (R&D) on renewable energy, energy efficiency, nuclear power, and fossil energy, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, energy statistics, general science, environmental cleanup, and nuclear weapons and nonproliferation programs. Table 6 provides the recent funding history for DOE programs, which are briefly described further below. DOE's full budget justifications are available at http://energy.gov/cfo/reports/budget-justification-
supportingdocuments.
supporting-documents.
Table 6. Department of Energy
(budget authority in millions of current dollars)
Program
FY2013
Approp.
FY2014
Approp.
FY2015
Approp.
FY2016
Request
FY2016
House
FY2016
Senate
ENERGY PROGRAMS
Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy
1,691.8
1,901.7
1,914.2
2,723.0
Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability
129.2
147.3
147.0
270.1
Nuclear Energy
708.4
888.4
833.4
907.6
Fossil Energy R&D
498.7
561.9
560.6
560.0
14.1
20.0
20.0
17.5
0.0
0.0
15.6
0.0
182.6
189.4
200.0
257.0
3.6
8.0
1.6
7.6
99.5
117.0
117.0
131.0
Non-Defense Environmental
Cleanup
223.5
231.8
246.0
220.2
Uranium Enrichment
Decontamination and
Decommissioning Fund
448.2
598.6
625.0
542.3
4,681.2
5,066.4
5,067.7
5,339.8
250.6
280.0
280.0
325.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Departmental Admin. (net)
119.2
126.4
125.1
153.5
Office of Inspector General
39.8
42.1
40.5
46.4
Office of Indian Energy
0.0
0.0
0.0
20.0
Advanced Technology Vehicles
5.7
6.0
4.0
6.0
Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale
Reserves
Elk Hills School Lands Fund
Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Northeast Home Heating Oil
Reserve
Energy Information Administration
Science
Advanced Research Projects AgencyEnergy (ARPA-E)
Nuclear Waste Disposal
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Program
FY2013
Approp.
FY2014
Approp.
FY2015
Approp.
FY2016
Request
FY2016
House
FY2016
Senate
Manufacturing Loans
Sec. 1705 Loan Guarantee
0.0
20.0
17.0
0.0
Tribal Indian Energy Loan Guarantee
0.0
0.0
0.0
11.0
Rescission (Clean Coal Technology)
0.0
0.0
-6.6
0.0
TOTAL, ENERGY PROGRAMS
9,096.2
10,205.0
10,208.0
11,538.0
Weapons Activities
6,966.9
7,781.0
8,180.4a
8,846.9
Nuclear Nonproliferation
2,237.4
1,954.0
1,615.3
1,940.3
Naval Reactors
994.1
1,095.0
1.233.8
1,375.5
Office of Admin./Salaries and
Expenses
377.5
377.0
369.6
402.7
10,575.8
11,207.0
11,399.0
12,565.4
4,627.1
5,000.0
5,453.0
5,527.3
760.0
755.0
753.5
774.4
-0.7
0.0
0.0
0.0
15,962.1
16,962.0
17,605.5
18,867.2
Southeastern
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Southwestern
11.2
11.9
11.4
11.4
Western
90.9
95.9
91.7
93.4
Falcon and Amistad O&M
0.2
0.4
0.2
0.2
Colorado River Basins Fund
0.0
-23.0
-23.0
-23.0
102.0
85.2
80.4
82.0
-26.2
-491.5
-563.4
27,224.8
27,402.4
29,923.8
DEFENSE ACTIVITIES
National Nuclear Security
Administration (NNSA)
Total, NNSA
Defense Environmental Cleanup
Other Defense Activities
Defense Nuclear Waste Disposal
TOTAL, DEFENSE
ACTIVITIES
POWER MARKETING
ADMINISTRATION (PMAs)
TOTAL, PMAs
Offsets
Total, DOE
25,160.7
Source: H.R. 83
Program
|
FY2014 Approp.
|
FY2015 Approp.
|
FY2016 Request
|
FY2016House
FY2016 S.Com.
|
FY2016 omnibus
|
ENERGY PROGRAMS
|
|
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
|
1,901.7
|
1,923.9
|
2,723.0
|
1,668.8
|
1,950.0
|
2,073.0
|
|
Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability
|
147.3
|
147.0
|
270.1
|
187.5
|
152.3
|
206.0
|
|
Nuclear Energy
|
888.4
|
833.4
|
907.6
|
936.2
|
950.2
|
986.2
|
|
Fossil Energy R&D
|
561.9
|
571.0
|
560.0
|
605.0
|
610.0
|
632.0
|
|
Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves
|
20.0
|
20.0
|
17.5
|
17.5
|
17.5
|
17.5
|
|
Elk Hills School Lands Fund
|
0
|
15.6
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Strategic Petroleum Reserve
|
189.4
|
200.0
|
257.0
|
212.0
|
200.0
|
212.0
|
|
Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve
|
8.0
|
1.6
|
7.6
|
7.6
|
7.6
|
7.6
|
|
Energy Information Administration
|
117.0
|
117.0
|
131.0
|
117.0
|
122.0
|
122.0
|
|
Non-Defense Environmental Cleanup
|
231.8
|
246.0
|
220.2
|
229.2
|
244.0
|
255.0
|
|
Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund
|
598.6
|
625.0
|
542.3
|
625.0
|
614.0
|
673.7
|
|
Science
|
5,066.4
|
5,067.7
|
5,339.8
|
5,100.0
|
5,143.9
|
5,350.2
|
|
Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E)
|
280.0
|
280.0
|
325.0
|
280.0
|
291.0
|
291.0
|
|
Nuclear Waste Disposal
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
150.0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Departmental Admin. (net)
|
126.4
|
126.0
|
153.5
|
74.0
|
131.0
|
131.0
|
|
Office of Inspector General
|
42.1
|
40.5
|
46.4
|
46.4
|
46.4
|
46.4
|
|
Office of Indian Energy
|
0
|
0
|
20.0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loans
|
6.0
|
4.0
|
6.0
|
6.0
|
6.0
|
6.0
|
|
Title 17 Loan Guarantee
|
20.0
|
17.0
|
17.0
|
17.0
|
17.0
|
17,0
|
|
Tribal Indian Energy Loan Guarantee
|
0
|
0
|
11.0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Rescission (Clean Coal Technology)
|
0
|
-6.6
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
TOTAL, ENERGY PROGRAMS
|
10,205.0
|
10,232,7
|
11,555.0
|
10,279.2
|
10,502.8
|
11,026.6
|
DEFENSE ACTIVITIES
|
National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
|
Weapons Activities
|
7,781.0
|
8,186.7a
8,846.9
|
8,713.0
|
8,882.4
|
8,846.9
|
|
Nuclear Nonproliferation
|
1,954.0
|
1,616.6
|
1,940.3
|
1.907.6
|
1,705.9
|
1,940.3
|
|
Naval Reactors
|
1,095.0
|
1.234.0
|
1,375.5
|
1,322.8
|
1,300.0
|
1,375.5
|
|
Office of Admin./Salaries and Expenses
|
377.0
|
369.6
|
402.7
|
385.5
|
375.0
|
363.8
|
|
Total, NNSA
|
11,207.0
|
11,407.3
|
12,565.4
|
12,328.9
|
12,263.3
|
12,526.5
|
|
Defense Environmental Cleanup
|
5,000.0
|
5,000.0
|
5,055.6
|
5,055.6
|
5,180.0
|
5,289.7
|
Defense Uranium Enrichment D&D
|
0
|
463.0
|
471.8b
471.8
|
614.0
|
0
|
|
Other Defense Activities
|
755.0
|
754.0
|
774.4
|
767.6
|
764.0
|
776.4
|
|
TOTAL, DEFENSE ACTIVITIES
|
16,962.0
|
17,624.3
|
18,867.2
|
18,623.8
|
18,821.3
|
18,592.7
|
POWER MARKETING ADMINISTRATION (PMAs)
|
|
Southeastern
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Southwestern
|
11.9
|
11.4
|
11.4
|
11.4
|
11.4
|
11.4
|
|
Western
|
95.9
|
93.4
|
93.4
|
93.4
|
93.4
|
93.4
|
|
Falcon and Amistad O&M
|
0.4
|
0.2
|
0.2
|
0.2
|
0.2
|
0.2
|
Colorado River Basins Fund
|
-23.0
|
|
TOTAL, PMAs
|
85.2
|
105.0
|
105.0
|
105.0
|
105.0
|
105.0
|
|
Subtotal, DOE
|
27,251
|
28,152.9
|
30,527.2
|
29,018.4
|
29,429.2
|
29,744.2
|
|
Offsets
|
-26.2
|
-236.1
|
0
|
-51.2
|
-125.9
|
-26.9
|
|
Total, DOE
|
27,225
|
27,916.8
|
30,527.2
|
28,967.2
|
29,303.2
|
29,717.3
|
Source: H.R. 83 Explanatory Statement, FY2015 budget request,
H.Rept. 113-486, S.Rept. 114-54, Congressional Budget Office, H.R. 2029 explanatory statementH.Rept. 113-486, Congressional Budget Office,
Senate Appropriations Committee. Totals may not add due to rounding.
a.
a.
This is the level as enacted in the FY2015 appropriations bill. NNSA
proposesproposed to change its budget structure
for FY2016, such as transferring Nuclear Counterterrorism Incident Response from Weapons Activities to
Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation. The FY2015 Weapons Activities figure comparable to the FY2016 figure is
$8,007.7 million.
b.
Budget request proposed creating a new line item.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
President Obama has declared energy efficiency and renewable energy (EERE) to be a high
priority, stressing their importance to jobs, economic growth, and U.S. manufacturing
competitiveness. For example, the 2013 Economic Report of the President
noted that "President noted that “President
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Obama has set a goal of once again doubling generation from wind, solar, and geothermal sources
by 2020.
” But" Congress has not supported most of
histhe President's proposed annual funding increases
.
, although a boost of about $150 million was approved for FY2016.
The Sustainable Transportation program area includes hydrogen and fuel cell technologies,
bioenergy, and vehicle technology. DOE
’'s electric vehicle program is driven by the 10-year
EVEverywhereEV-Everywhere Challenge (launched in 2012), which aims to achieve parity for plug-in electric
vehicle (EV) affordability and convenience by 2022. A key supporting technology goal is to cut
2008 battery production cost
70% by 2015 and 88%from $300/kilowatt-hour (kwh) of battery capacity in 2014 to $125/kwh by 2022. The fuel cell program targets a cost
below $40 per kilowatt (kw) and a durability of 5,000 hours (equivalent to 150,000 miles) by
2020. For hydrogen produced from renewable resources, the target is to bring the cost (dispensed
and untaxed) below $4.00 per gasoline gallon-equivalent (gge) by 2020. Bioenergy goals include
the development of
“"drop-in
”" liquid fuels that would be largely compatible with existing energy
infrastructure. The program aims to help the non-food
“"drop-in
”" biofuels reach a wholesale
finished-fuel cost under $3 per gge by 2017 and $3/gge for algal biomass productivity by 2020.
Renewable energy programs focus on electricity generation from solar, wind, water, and
geothermal sources. DOE
’'s SunShot Initiative is aimed at halving the cost of solar power to 6
cents per
kilowatt-hour (kwh)kwh to make solar power cost-competitive without subsidies by 2020.
There are three key goals for the wind program. First, for land-based windfarms, there is a goal
for the energy cost of utility-scale turbines to drop from 8 cents to 5.7 cents/kwh by 2020 and 4.2
cents/kwh by 2030. Second, for offshore settings, the goal is to cut energy costs from 21
cents/kwh in 2010 to 17 cents/kwh (unsubsidized) by 2020. Third, there is an overall goal to
increase installed windfarm capacity from 60 billion watts (gigawatts, gw) in 2012 to 125 gw by
2020 and 300 gw by 2030. The geothermal program aims to lower the risk of resource
exploration and cut power production costs to 6 cents/kwh for hydrothermal power by 2020 and
for newly developed technologies by 2030.
In the energy efficiency program area, the advanced manufacturing program has a general goal of
reducing the energy use of manufactured goods across targeted product life-cycles by 50% over
10 years. More specific objectives include (1) 50% energy savings through advanced materials
and industrial processes, (2) helping leading companies cut energy intensity by 25% over 10
years, and (3) facilitating installation of 40 gigawatts
(gw, a million kilowatts) of combined heat
and power equipment by 2020.
612 The building technologies program has a goal of reducing
building energy use 50% by 2030. The program strategy is designed with three linked paths:
Improve building components (envelope/windows, heating/ventilation/air conditioning, lighting,
and sensors/controls), strengthen market demand (through cooperation with private industry), and
raise energy efficiency levels for new equipment (via standards) and new buildings (via model
codes).
The EERE program also provides grants to fund energy efficiency improvements and energy
planning. Weatherization grants support state and local governments in providing home energy
services to low-income families that help them reduce energy costs and save money. State energy
grants support both administrative and program activities at many state energy offices.
6
DOE, EERE-Advanced Manufacturing Office, FY14 Budget At-a-Glance, http://www1.eere.energy.gov/office_eere/
pdfs/budget/manufacturing_ataglance_2014.pdf.
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Nuclear Energy
DOE’s nuclear energy program has four major stated goals:
•
Improve the safety, reliability, and economics of nuclear power plants;
•
Implement a “consent based” strategy for developing nuclear waste storage and
disposal facilities;
•
Develop improved waste management and fuel cycle technologies; and
•
Understand and minimize the risks of nuclear proliferation and terrorism.
The Reactor Concepts program area includes research on advanced reactors, including advanced
small modular reactors, and research to enhance the “sustainability” of existing commercial light
water reactors. Advanced reactor research focuses on “Generation IV” reactors, as opposed to the
existing fleet of commercial light water reactors, which are generally classified as generations II
and III. Nuclear technology development under this program focuses on “fast reactors,” using
high-energy neutrons, fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactors, and high temperature gascooled reactors. Cost-shared research with the nuclear industry is also conducted on extending the
life of existing commercial light water reactors beyond 60 years, the maximum operating period
currently licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). This subprogram is also
conducting research to understand the Fukushima disaster and to develop accident prevention and
mitigation measures.
The nuclear energy program also provides design and licensing funding for small modular
reactors (SMRs), which range from about 40 to 300 megawatts of electrical capacity. Support
under this subprogram is currently being provided to the NuScale Power SMR, which has a
generating capacity of 45 megawatts. Under the company’s current concept, up to 12 reactors
would be housed in a single pool of water, which would provide emergency cooling. The NuScale
SMR is intended to be ready for commercial operation by around 2025, according to DOE.7
The Fuel Cycle Research and Development program conducts “long-term, science-based”
research on a wide variety of technologies for improving the management of spent nuclear fuel,
according to DOE. In general, the program is investigating ways to separate radioactive
constituents of spent fuel for re-use or to be bonded into stable waste forms. Within this
subprogram, DOE is also conducting work toward establishing a new spent fuel management
system, consistent with the Administration’s moves to terminate the previously authorized waste
repository program at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Other major research areas in the Fuel Cycle
R&D program include the development of accident-tolerant fuels for existing commercial
reactors, evaluation of fuel cycle options, development of improved technologies to prevent
diversion of nuclear materials for weapons, and technology to increase nuclear fuel resources,
such as uranium extraction from seawater.
Fossil Energy Research and Development
DOE’s Fossil Energy R&D Program focuses primarily on carbon capture and storage for coalfired power systems. Major activities include:
7
DOE Office of Nuclear Energy, “Small Modular Nuclear Reactors,” http://www.energy.gov/ne/nuclear-reactortechnologies/small-modular-nuclear-reactors.
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•
Carbon Capture subprogram for separating CO2 in both pre-combustion and postcombustion systems;
•
Carbon Storage subprogram on long-term geologic storage of CO2, including
small- and large-scale CO2 injection tests;
•
Advanced Energy Systems subprogram on improving availability and efficiency
of fossil energy systems integrated with CO2 capture. The sub-program focuses
on gasification, oxy-combustion, advanced turbines, and other energy systems.
•
Cross-Cutting Research on innovative systems;
•
Supercritical Transformational Electric Power (STEP) Generation Program,
developing technology to replace the conventional steam cycle in electric
turbine-generators with supercritical carbon dioxide; and
•
Natural Gas Technologies R&D, with a focus on environmentally sound
technologies for shale gas development.
Strategic Petroleum Reserve
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), authorized by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act
(P.L. 94-163) in 1975, consists of caverns formed out of naturally occurring salt domes in
Louisiana and Texas. The SPR provides strategic and economic security against foreign and
domestic disruptions in U.S. oil supplies via an emergency stockpile of crude oil. The program
fulfills U.S. obligations under the International Energy Program, which avails the United States of
International Energy Agency (IEA) assistance through its coordinated energy emergency response
plans, and provides a deterrent against energy supply disruptions.
By early 2010, the SPR’s maximum capacity reached 727 million barrels.8 The federal
government has not purchased oil for the SPR since 1994. Beginning in 2000, additions to the
SPR were made with royalty-in-kind (RIK) oil acquired by the Department of Energy in lieu of
cash royalties paid on production from federal offshore leases. In September 2009, the Secretary
of the Interior announced a transitional phasing out of the RIK Program. DOE has been
conducting a major maintenance program to address aging infrastructure and a deferred
maintenance backlog at SPR facilities.
In the summer of 2011, the President ordered an SPR sale in coordination with an International
Energy Administration sale under treaty obligation because of Libya’s supply curtailment. The
U.S. sale of 30.6 million barrels reduced the SPR inventory to 695.9 million barrels.
In March 2014, DOE’s Office of Petroleum Reserves conducted a test sale that delivered 5.0
million barrels of crude oil over a 47-day period that netted $468.6 million in cash receipts to the
U.S. government (SPR Petroleum Account). The SPR Petroleum Account current balance is
$250.8 million.
8
For details on the SPR see CRS Report R41687, The Strategic Petroleum Reserve and Refined Product Reserves:
Authorization and Drawdown Policy, by Anthony Andrews and Robert Pirog.
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Science
The DOE Office of Science conducts basic research in six program areas: advanced scientific
computing research, basic energy sciences, biological and environmental research, fusion energy
sciences, high-energy physics, and nuclear physics. Through (primarily) these programs, DOE
was the third-largest federal funder of basic research and the largest federal funder of research in
the physical sciences in FY2014.
DOE’s Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) program focuses on developing and
maintaining computing and networking capabilities for science and research in applied
mathematics, computer science, and advanced networking. The program plays a key role in the
DOE-wide effort to advance the development of exascale computing, which seeks to build a
computer that can solve scientific problems a thousand times faster than today’s best machines.
DOE leadership asserts that the department is on a path to have a capable exascale machine by
the early 2020s.
Basic Energy Sciences (BES), the largest program area in the Office of Science, focuses on
understanding, predicting, and ultimately controlling matter and energy at the electronic, atomic,
and molecular level. The program supports research in disciplines such as condensed matter and
materials physics, chemistry, and geosciences. BES also provides funding for scientific user
facilities (e.g., the National Synchrotron Light Source II, which is to transition from construction
to operation in FY2015, and the Linac Coherent Light Source-II), and certain DOE research
centers and hubs (e.g., Energy Frontier Research Centers, as well as the Batteries and Energy
Storage and Fuels from Sunlight Innovation Hubs).
Biological and Environmental Research (BER) seeks a predictive understanding of complex
biological, climate, and environmental systems across a continuum from the small scale (e.g.,
genomic research) to the large (e.g., Earth systems and climate). Within BER, Biological Systems
Science focuses on plant and microbial systems, while Biological and Environmental Research
supports climate-relevant atmospheric and ecosystem modeling and research. BER facilities and
centers include three Bioenergy Research Centers and the Environmental Molecular Science
Laboratory at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) seeks to increase understanding of matter at very high
temperatures and to establish the science needed to develop a fusion energy source. FES provides
funding for the ITER project, a multi-national effort to design and build an experimental fusion
reactor. According to DOE, ITER “aims to generate fusion power 30 times the levels produced to
date and to exceed the external power applied … by at least a factor of ten.” However, many U.S.
analysts have expressed concern about ITER’s cost, schedule, and management, as well as the
budgetary impact on domestic fusion research.
The High Energy Physics (HEP) program conducts research on the fundamental constituents of
matter and energy, including studies of dark energy and the search for dark matter. The FY2016
HEP budget request seeks to align the program with the recommendations of the Particle Physics
Project Prioritization Panel (P5) report. Nuclear Physics supports research on the nature of matter,
including its basic constituents and their interactions. A major project in the Nuclear Physics
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program is the construction of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at Michigan State University.
Nearing completion is the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility Upgrade project.9
For more details, see CRS Report R43963, DOE’s Office of Science and the FY2016 Budget
Request, by Heather B. Gonzalez.
ARPA-E
The Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E) was authorized by the America
COMPETES Act (P.L. 110-69) to support transformational energy technology research projects.
DOE budget documents describe ARPA-E’s mission as overcoming long-term, high-risk
technological barriers to the development of energy technologies.
Loan Guarantees and Direct Loans
DOE’s Loan Programs Office provides loan guarantees for projects that deploy specified energy
Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability
The DOE Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) has the mission of supporting more economically competitive, environmentally responsible, secure, and resilient U.S. energy infrastructure. To achieve that mission, OE supports electric grid modernization and resiliency through research and development (R&D), demonstration projects, partnerships, facilitation, modeling and analytics, and emergency preparedness and response. It is the federal government's lead entity for energy sector-specific responses to energy security emergencies—whether caused by physical infrastructure problems or by cybersecurity issues.
DOE's 2015 Grid Modernization Multi-Year Program Plan describes the Department's vision for "a future electric grid that provides a critical platform for U.S. prosperity, competitiveness, and innovation by delivering reliable, affordable, and clean electricity to consumers where they want it, when they want it, how they want it." To help achieve this vision, DOE has established three key national goals:
- 10% reduction in the economic costs of power outages by 2025;
- 33% decrease in the cost of reserve margins while maintaining reliability by 2025; and
- 50% decrease in the net integration costs of distributed energy resources by 2025.13
For more details, see CRS Report R44357, DOE's Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE): A Primer, with Appropriations for FY2016, by [author name scrubbed].
Nuclear Energy
DOE's nuclear energy program has four major stated goals:
- Improve the safety, reliability, and economics of nuclear power plants;
- Implement a "consent based" strategy for developing nuclear waste storage and disposal facilities;
- Develop improved waste management and fuel cycle technologies; and
- Understand and minimize the risks of nuclear proliferation and terrorism.
The Reactor Concepts program area includes research on advanced reactors, including advanced small modular reactors, and research to enhance the "sustainability" of existing commercial light water reactors. Advanced reactor research focuses on "Generation IV" reactors, as opposed to the existing fleet of commercial light water reactors, which are generally classified as generations II and III. Nuclear technology development under this program focuses on "fast reactors," using high-energy neutrons, fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactors, and high temperature gas-cooled reactors. Cost-shared research with the nuclear industry is also conducted on extending the life of existing commercial light water reactors beyond 60 years, the maximum operating period currently licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). This subprogram is also conducting research to understand the Fukushima disaster and to develop accident prevention and mitigation measures.
The nuclear energy program also provides design and licensing funding for small modular reactors (SMRs), which range from about 40 to 300 megawatts of electrical capacity. Support under this subprogram is currently being provided to the NuScale Power SMR, which has a generating capacity of 50 megawatts. Under the company's current concept, up to 12 reactors would be housed in a single pool of water, which would provide emergency cooling. The NuScale SMR is intended to be ready for commercial operation by around 2025, according to DOE.14
The Fuel Cycle Research and Development program conducts "long-term, science-based" research on a wide variety of technologies for improving the management of spent nuclear fuel, according to DOE. In general, the program is investigating ways to separate radioactive constituents of spent fuel for re-use or to be bonded into stable waste forms. Within this subprogram, DOE is also conducting work toward establishing a new spent fuel management system, consistent with the Administration's moves to terminate the previously authorized waste repository program at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Other major research areas in the Fuel Cycle R&D program include the development of accident-tolerant fuels for existing commercial reactors, evaluation of fuel cycle options, development of improved technologies to prevent diversion of nuclear materials for weapons, and technology to increase nuclear fuel resources, such as uranium extraction from seawater.
Fossil Energy Research and Development
DOE's Fossil Energy R&D Program focuses primarily on carbon capture and storage for coal-fired power systems. Major activities include the following:
- Carbon Capture subprogram for separating CO2 in both pre-combustion and post-combustion systems;
- Carbon Storage subprogram on long-term geologic storage of CO2, including small- and large-scale CO2 injection tests;
- Advanced Energy Systems subprogram on improving availability and efficiency of fossil energy systems integrated with CO2 capture. The sub-program focuses on gasification, oxy-combustion, advanced turbines, and other energy systems.
- Cross-Cutting Research on innovative systems;
- Supercritical Transformational Electric Power (STEP) Generation Program, developing technology to replace the conventional steam cycle in electric turbine-generators with supercritical carbon dioxide; and
- Natural Gas Technologies R&D, with a focus on environmentally sound technologies for shale gas development.
Strategic Petroleum Reserve
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), authorized by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (P.L. 94-163) in 1975, consists of caverns built within naturally occurring salt domes in Louisiana and Texas. The SPR provides strategic and economic security against foreign and domestic disruptions in U.S. oil supplies via an emergency stockpile of crude oil. The program fulfills U.S. obligations under the International Energy Program, which avails the United States of International Energy Agency (IEA) assistance through its coordinated energy emergency response plans, and provides a deterrent against energy supply disruptions.
By early 2010, the SPR's capacity reached 727 million barrels.15 The federal government has not purchased oil for the SPR since 1994. Beginning in 2000, additions to the SPR were made with royalty-in-kind (RIK) oil acquired by the Department of Energy in lieu of cash royalties paid on production from federal offshore leases. In September 2009, the Secretary of the Interior announced a transitional phasing out of the RIK Program. DOE has been conducting a major maintenance program to address aging infrastructure and a deferred maintenance backlog at SPR facilities.
In the summer of 2011, the President ordered an SPR sale in coordination with an International Energy Administration sale under treaty obligation because of Libya's supply curtailment. The U.S. sale of 30.6 million barrels reduced the SPR inventory to 695.9 million barrels.
In March 2014, DOE's Office of Petroleum Reserves conducted a test sale that delivered 5.0 million barrels of crude oil over a 47-day period that netted $468.6 million in cash receipts to the U.S. government (SPR Petroleum Account).
Science
The DOE Office of Science conducts basic research in six program areas: advanced scientific computing research, basic energy sciences, biological and environmental research, fusion energy sciences, high-energy physics, and nuclear physics. Through (primarily) these programs, DOE was the third-largest federal funder of basic research and the largest federal funder of research in the physical sciences in FY2014.
DOE's Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) program focuses on developing and maintaining computing and networking capabilities for science and research in applied mathematics, computer science, and advanced networking. The program plays a key role in the DOE-wide effort to advance the development of exascale computing, which seeks to build a computer that can solve scientific problems a thousand times faster than today's best machines. DOE leadership asserts that the department is on a path to have a capable exascale machine by the early 2020s.
Basic Energy Sciences (BES), the largest program area in the Office of Science, focuses on understanding, predicting, and ultimately controlling matter and energy at the electronic, atomic, and molecular level. The program supports research in disciplines such as condensed matter and materials physics, chemistry, and geosciences. BES also provides funding for scientific user facilities (e.g., the National Synchrotron Light Source II, which began transitioning from construction to operation in FY2015, and the Linac Coherent Light Source-II), and certain DOE research centers and hubs (e.g., Energy Frontier Research Centers, as well as the Batteries and Energy Storage and Fuels from Sunlight Innovation Hubs).
Biological and Environmental Research (BER) seeks a predictive understanding of complex biological, climate, and environmental systems across a continuum from the small scale (e.g., genomic research) to the large (e.g., Earth systems and climate). Within BER, Biological Systems Science focuses on plant and microbial systems, while Biological and Environmental Research supports climate-relevant atmospheric and ecosystem modeling and research. BER facilities and centers include three Bioenergy Research Centers and the Environmental Molecular Science Laboratory at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) seeks to increase understanding of the behavior of matter at very high temperatures and to establish the science needed to develop a fusion energy source. FES provides funding for the ITER project, a multi-national effort to design and build an experimental fusion reactor. According to DOE, ITER "aims to generate fusion power 30 times the levels produced to date and to exceed the external power applied … by at least a factor of ten." However, many U.S. analysts have expressed concern about ITER's cost, schedule, and management, as well as the budgetary impact on domestic fusion research.
The High Energy Physics (HEP) program conducts research on the fundamental constituents of matter and energy, including studies of dark energy and the search for dark matter. The FY2016 HEP budget request sought to align the program with the recommendations of the Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel (P5) report. Nuclear Physics supports research on the nature of matter, including its basic constituents and their interactions. A major project in the Nuclear Physics program is the construction of the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams at Michigan State University. Nearing completion is the Continuous Electron Beam Accelerator Facility Upgrade project.16
For more details, see CRS Report R43963, DOE's Office of Science and the FY2016 Budget Request, by [author name scrubbed].
ARPA-E
The Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E) was authorized by the America COMPETES Act (P.L. 110-69) to support transformational energy technology research projects. DOE budget documents describe ARPA-E's mission as overcoming long-term, high-risk technological barriers to the development of energy technologies.
For more details, see CRS Report R43986, ARPA-E and the FY2016 Budget Request, by [author name scrubbed].
Loan Guarantees and Direct Loans
DOE's Loan Programs Office provides loan guarantees for projects that deploy specified energy technologies, as authorized by Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT05, P.L.
10958109-58), and direct loans for advanced vehicle manufacturing technologies. Section 1703 of the act
authorizes loan guarantees for advanced energy technologies that reduce greenhouse gas releases,
and Section 1705 established a temporary program for renewable energy and energy efficiency
projects.
Title XVII allows DOE to provide loan guarantees for up to 80% of construction costs for eligible
energy projects. Successful applicants must pay an up-front fee, or
“"subsidy cost,
”" to cover
potential losses under the loan guarantee program. Under the loan guarantee agreements, the
federal government would repay all covered loans if the borrower defaulted. This would reduce
the risk to lenders and allow them to provide financing at below-market interest rates. The
following is a summary of loan guarantee amounts available for various technologies:
9
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$8.3 billion for non-nuclear technologies under Section 1703;
•
$2 billion for unspecified projects from FY2007 under Section 1703;
•
$18.5 billion ceiling for nuclear power plants ($
6.5 billion finalized; $1.8 billion
conditionally committed);
•
8.3 billion committed);
$4 billion allocated for loan guarantees for uranium enrichment plants
($2 billion
conditionally committed);
•
;
$1.183 billion ceiling for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects under
Section 1703, in addition to other ceiling amounts, which can include
pending
applications under Section 1705; and
•
applications that were pending under Section 1705 before it expired; and
An appropriation of $170 million for subsidy costs for renewable energy and
energy efficiency loan guarantees under Section 1703. If the subsidy costs
averaged 10% of the loan guarantees, this funding could
supportleverage loan guarantees
totaling $1.7 billion.
DOE, FY 2016 Budget Justification, Volume 4, http://www.energy.gov/cfo/downloads/fy-2016-budget-justification.
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totaling $1.7 billion.Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Stewardship
Congress established the Stockpile Stewardship Program in the FY1994 National Defense
Authorization Act (P.L. 103-160). The goal of the program, as amended by the FY2010 National
Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 111-84, §3111), is to ensure
“"that the nuclear weapons stockpile
is safe, secure, and reliable without the use of underground nuclear weapons testing.
”" The
program is operated by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a semiautonomous
agency within DOE that Congress established in the FY2000 National Defense Authorization Act
( (P.L. 106-65, Title XXXII).
Stockpile stewardship consists of all activities in NNSA
’'s Weapons Activities account. Most
stewardship activities take place at the nuclear weapons complex (the
“complex”"complex"), which consists
of three laboratories (Los Alamos National Laboratory, NM; Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory, CA; and Sandia National Laboratories, NM and CA); four production sites (Kansas
City
PlantNational Security Campus, MO; Pantex Plant, TX; Savannah River Site, SC; and Y-12 National Security
Complex, TN); and the Nevada National Security Site (formerly Nevada Test Site). NNSA
manages and sets policy for the complex; contractors to NNSA operate the eight sites.
Directed Stockpile Work involves work directly on nuclear weapons in the stockpile, such as
monitoring their condition; maintaining them through repairs, refurbishment, life extension, and
modifications; conducting R&D in support of specific warheads; and dismantlement. The number
of warheads has fallen sharply since the end of the Cold War, and continues to decline. As a
result, a major activity of Directed Stockpile Work is interim storage of warheads to be
dismantled; dismantlement; and disposition (i.e., storing or eliminating warhead components and
materials).
Campaigns are
“"multi-year, multi-functional efforts
”" that
“"provide specialized scientific
knowledge and technical support to the directed stockpile work on the nuclear weapons
stockpile.
”" Many campaigns have significance for policy decisions. For example, the Science
Campaign’ Campaign's goals include improving the ability to assess warhead performance without nuclear
testing, improving readiness to conduct nuclear tests should the need arise, and maintaining the
scientific infrastructure of the nuclear weapons laboratories. Campaigns also fund some large
experimental facilities, such as the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory. Note that P.L. 113-235 renamed
“Campaigns” as “"Campaigns" as "Research, Development, Test, and
Evaluation.”
Readiness in Technical Base and Facilities funds infrastructure and operations at nuclear weapons
complex sites. A modern nuclear weapon has two stages: Detonation of the “primary” provides
the energy to detonate the “secondary.” The core of the primary is the “pit,” which uses
plutonium; the secondary uses uranium and other materials. NNSA has encountered problems in
building facilities to manufacture both components.
Weapons Activities also has several smaller programs, including:
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•
Evaluation."
Infrastructure and Operations (formerly Readiness in Technical Base and Facilities) has as its main funding elements material recycle and recovery, recapitalization of facilities, and construction of facilities. The latter included two controversial and expensive projects, the Uranium Processing Facility (UPF) at the Y-12 National Security Complex (TN) and the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement (CMRR) Project, which deals with plutonium, at Los Alamos National Laboratory (NM).
Weapons Activities also has several smaller programs, including the following:
Secure Transportation Asset, providing for safe and secure transport of nuclear
weapons, components, and materials.
•
Nuclear Counterterrorism Incident Response Program, responding to and
mitigating nuclear and radiological incidents worldwide (proposed for transfer to
Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation).
Congressional Research Service
16
Energy and Water Development: FY2016 Appropriations
.
•
Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation Program, which “sustain[s] and
exercise[s] the U.S. Government’s ability to understand nuclear terrorism and to
counter nuclear device proliferation” (proposed for transfer to Defense Nuclear
Nonproliferation).
•
weapons, components, and materials.
Site Stewardship seeks to
“"bring focus on environmental compliance, nuclear
materials disposition and developing the needed skills and talent for NNSA
’s
's enduring technical workforce at the laboratories and production plants.
”
•
"
Defense Nuclear Security provides operations, maintenance, and construction
funds for protective forces, physical security systems, personnel security, and
related activities.
•
Information Technology and Cybersecurity elements include cybersecurity,
enterprise secure computing, and Federal Unclassified Information Technology.
•
Legacy Contractor Pensions provides supplemental
funding for former
University of California employees who staffed the DOE weapons labs.
•
Domestic Uranium Enrichment maintains advanced enrichment centrifuges in
standby pending an analysis of U.S. enriched-uranium and tritium requirements.
funds for pensions for retirees from Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories who began employment when the University of California was the contractor for those labs.For more information, see CRS Report R43948, Energy and Water Development: FY2016
Appropriations for Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Stewardship
, by [author name scrubbed].
Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
DOE', by Jonathan E. Medalia.
Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
DOE’s nonproliferation and national security programs provide technical capabilities to support
U.S. efforts to prevent, detect, and counter the spread of nuclear weapons worldwide. These
nonproliferation and national security programs are administered by NNSA
, which recently
reorganized the's Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation
.
, which was reorganized in 2015.
Global Materials Security has two major program elements. The
“"First Line of Defense
”" focuses
on increasing the security of vulnerable stockpiles of nuclear material in other countries. The
“ "Second Line of Defense
”" is intended to
“"improve partner countries
’' abilities to deter, detect, and
interdict illicit trafficking,
”" according to DOE
’'s FY2016 budget justification. Activities toward
achieving those goals include the provision of equipment and training, workshops and exercises,
and collaboration with international organizations.
Materials Management and Minimization conducts activities to minimize and, where possible,
eliminate stockpiles of weapons-useable material around the world. Major activities include
conversion of reactors that use highly enriched uranium (useable for weapons) to low enriched
uranium, removal and consolidation of nuclear material stockpiles, and disposition of excess
nuclear materials.
Nonproliferation and Arms Control works on
“"strengthening the nonproliferation and arms
control regimes in order to reduce proliferation and terrorism risks,
”" according to the FY2016
justification. This program conducts reviews of nuclear export applications and technology
transfer authorizations, implements treaty obligations, and analyzes nonproliferation policies and
proposals.
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Energy and Water Development: FY2016 Appropriations
.
proposals.
Other programs under Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation include research and development and
construction. The Nonproliferation Construction program consists of the Mixed Oxide (MOX)
Fuel Fabrication Facility (described under
“"Funding Issues
”" above), which is being built in South
Carolina to convert surplus weapons plutonium into nuclear reactor fuel.
DOE is also proposing
DOE also proposed for FY2016 to transfer counterterrorism and counterproliferation programs
from the Weapons Activities appropriations account to Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation.
According to the budget justification,
“"These transfers align all NNSA funding to prevent,
counter, and respond to nuclear proliferation and terrorism in one appropriation.
”
" The change was approved in the P.L. 114-113 explanatory statement.
Cleanup of Former Nuclear Sites
The development and production of nuclear weapons for national defense purposes during half a
century since the beginning of the Manhattan Project resulted in a legacy of wastes and
contamination that continues to present substantial challenges today. In 1989, DOE established
the Office of Environmental Management primarily to consolidate its responsibilities for the
cleanup of former nuclear weapons production sites that had been administered under multiple
offices.
10
DOE’17
DOE's nuclear cleanup efforts are broad in scope and include the disposal of large quantities of
radioactive and other hazardous wastes generated over decades; management and disposal of
surplus nuclear materials; remediation of extensive contamination in soil and groundwater;
decontamination and decommissioning of excess buildings and facilities; and safeguarding,
securing, and maintaining facilities while cleanup is underway.
1118 The Office of Environmental
Management also is responsible for the cleanup of DOE sites that were involved in civilian
nuclear energy research, which also generated wastes and contamination. These research sites add
a non-defense component to the office
’'s mission, albeit smaller in terms of the scope of their
cleanup and associated funding.
12
19
DOE has identified
in excess of 100 “geographic”more than 100 "geographic" sites in over 30 states that historically were
involved in the production of nuclear weapons and nuclear energy research for civilian
purposes.
13 20 The geographic scope of these sites is substantial, collectively encompassing a land
area of approximately 2 million acres. Cleanup remedies are in place and operational at the
majority of these sites. The responsibility for the long-term stewardship of these sites has been
transferred to the Office of Legacy Management and other offices within DOE for the operation
and maintenance of cleanup remedies and monitoring.
14 Some of the smaller sites for which DOE
10
In 1989, DOE created the Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, which later was renamed the
Office of Environmental Management.
11
The term “cleanup” often is used in reference to the remediation of risks at a site. Cleanup may be accomplished
through various means to prevent potentially harmful levels of exposure to wastes and contamination. Cleanup may not
necessarily entail the removal of all hazards from a site, but in some instances may involve the permanent containment
of wastes or contamination to address exposure risks. If residual wastes or contamination remains on-site after cleanup
is complete, long-term stewardship may continue to monitor residual wastes or contamination and ensure that cleanup
measures continue to operate effectively.
12
For additional information on the history, mission, and scope of the Office of Environmental Management, see
DOE’s website: http://energy.gov/em/office-environmental-management.
13
For an interactive map and listing of each site, see DOE’s Office of Environmental Management website:
http://energy.gov/em/cleanup-sites. There are links to separate maps for active and completed sites.
14
The Office of Legacy Management administers the long-term stewardship of DOE sites that do not have a continuing
(continued...)
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.
21 Some of the smaller sites for which DOE initially was responsible were transferred to the Army Corps of Engineers in 1997 under the
Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program (FUSRAP). Once the Corps completes the
cleanup of a FUSRAP site, it is transferred back to DOE for long-term stewardship under the
Office of Legacy Management.
Much work remains to be done at the sites that are still administered by the Office of
Environmental Management. DOE expects cleanup to continue for several years or even decades
at some of these sites, and estimates additional cumulative funding needs ranging from $191.6
billion to $224.3 billion over the long-term to fulfill the cleanup liability of the United States.
15
22 The Office of Environmental Management has completed the cleanup of 91 sites in 30 states and
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and plans to continue the cleanup of 16 sites in 11 states in
FY2016.
16
23
Three appropriations accounts fund the Office of Environmental Management. The Defense
Environmental Cleanup account is the largest in terms of funding, and it finances the cleanup of
former nuclear weapons production sites. The Non-Defense Environmental Cleanup account
funds the cleanup of federal nuclear energy research sites. Title XI of the Energy Policy Act of
1992 (P.L. 102-486) established the Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and
Decommissioning (D&D) Fund to pay for the cleanup of three federal facilities that
were used to
enrichenriched uranium for national defense and civilian purposes.
1724 Title X of P.L. 102-486 also
authorized the reimbursement of uranium and thorium licensees for their costs of cleaning up
contamination at sites that processed nuclear materials for national defense purposes at these
federal facilities.
1825 The three federal uranium enrichment facilities are located near Paducah, KY;
Piketon, OH (Portsmouth plant); and Oak Ridge, TN.
The adequacy of funding for the Office of Environmental Management to attain cleanup
milestones across the entire site inventory has been a recurring issue. Cleanup milestones are
enforceable measures incorporated into compliance agreements negotiated among DOE, EPA,
and the states. These milestones establish time frames for the completion of specific actions to
satisfy applicable requirements at individual sites.
19
Power Marketing Administrations
DOE’26
Power Marketing Administrations
DOE's four Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs)—Bonneville Power Administration
(BPA), Southeastern Power Administration (SEPA), Southwestern Power Administration
(...continued)
mission once cleanup remedies are in place. Sites that have a continuing mission are transferred to the DOE offices that
administer those missions, which are responsible for their long-term stewardship.
15
Department of Energy, Office of Chief Financial Officer, FY2016 Congressional Budget Request, February 2015,
Volume 5, Environmental Management, p. 89.
16
Department of Energy, Office of Chief Financial Officer, FY2015 Congressional Budget Request, March 2014,
Volume 5, Environmental Management, p. 5. See p. 84 for a list of the 16 sites where cleanup is planned to continue in
FY2015. One of these 16 sites, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico, is not a cleanup site itself, but is a
permanent, geologic repository for “transuranic” wastes that are removed from other DOE sites for disposal.
17
42 U.S.C. §2297g.
18
42 U.S.C. §2296a.
19
Compliance agreements for individual sites are available on DOE’s Office of Environmental Management website:
http://energy.gov/em/compliance-agreements.
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(SWPA), and Western Area Power Administration (WAPA)—were established to sell the power
generated by the dams operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Army Corps of
Engineers.20 The primary purpose of these projects in many cases was conservation and
management of water resources—including irrigation, flood control, recreation, or other
objectives. (For more information, see CRS Report RS22564, Power Marketing Administrations:
Background and Current Issues, by Richard J. Campbell.)
Title IV: Independent Agencies
Independent agencies that receive funding from the Energy and Water Development bill include
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and
the Denali Commission. Their recent appropriations and FY2016 requests are shown in Table 7.
Table 7. Independent Agencies Funded by Energy and Water Development
Appropriations
(budget authority in millions of current dollars)
FY2014
Approp.
FY2015
Approp.
80.3
90.0
95.0
987.3
1,055.9
1,015.3
1,032.2
-860.8
-930.7
-895.5
-910.0
126.5
125.2
119.8
122.2
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
26.8
28.0
28.5
29.2
Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board
3.2
3.4
3.4
3.6
Denali Commission
10.0
10.0
10.0
10.0
Delta Regional Authority
11.0
12.0
12.0
15.0
Northern Border Regional Commission
1.5
5.0
5.0
5.0
Southeast Crescent Regional Commission
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.3
Federal Coordinator of Alaska Gas Projects
1.0
1.0
0
1.0
245.4
265.1
269.0
281.3
Program
Appalachian Regional Commission
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
(Revenues)
Net NRC (including Inspector General)
Total
FY2013
Approp.
$64.9
FY2016
Request
FY2016
House
FY2016
Senate
Source: H.R. 83 Explanatory Statement, (BPA), Southeastern Power Administration (SEPA), Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA), and Western Area Power Administration (WAPA)—were established to sell the power generated by the dams operated by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Army Corps of Engineers.27 The primary purpose of these projects in many cases was conservation and management of water resources—including irrigation, flood control, recreation, or other objectives. (For more information, see CRS Report RS22564, Power Marketing Administrations: Background and Current Issues, by [author name scrubbed].)
Title IV: Independent Agencies
Independent agencies that receive funding from the Energy and Water Development bill include the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and the Denali Commission. Their recent appropriations history is shown in Table 7.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Congress for the first time included control points within the overall NRC appropriation in enacting P.L. 114-113 and also reduced the agency's total spending level by $12 million from FY2015. The Explanatory Statement for the omnibus measure provides $760.0 million for Nuclear Reactor Safety, $15.0 million for Integrated University Programs, $172.0 million for Nuclear Materials and Waste Safety, and $43.0 million for Decommissioning and Low-Level Waste. The largest three control points include specific limits on the amount that can be used for "corporate support." Sec. 402 of the omnibus measure establishes new reprogramming authority in conjunction with the control points. Also included in the Explanatory Statement is a requirement that NRC staff receive approval from the NRC commissioners before committing resources to new rulemaking activities.
Table 7. Independent Agencies Funded by Energy and Water Development Appropriations
(budget authority in millions of current dollars)
Program
|
FY2014 Approp.
|
FY2015 Approp.
FY2016 Request
|
FY2016 House
|
FY2016 S.Com.
|
FY2016 omnibus
|
|
Appalachian Regional Commission
|
80.3
|
90.0
|
95.0
|
95.0
|
105.0
|
146.0
|
|
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
|
1,055.9
|
1,015.3
|
1,032.21
|
1,015.3
|
1,002.1
|
1,002.1
|
|
(Revenues)
|
-930.7
|
-895.5
|
-910.1
|
-872.4
|
-883.0
|
-882.9
|
|
Net NRC (including Inspector General)
|
125.2
|
119.8
|
122.2
|
143.0
|
119.2
|
119.2
|
|
Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
|
28.0
|
28.5
|
29.2
|
29.9
|
29.2
|
29.2
|
|
Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board
|
3.4
|
3.4
|
3.6
|
3.6
|
3.6
|
3.6
|
|
Denali Commission
|
10.0
|
10.0
|
10.0
|
10.0
|
11.0
|
11.0
|
|
Delta Regional Authority
|
12.0
|
12.0
|
14.9
|
12.0
|
25.0
|
25.0
|
|
Northern Border Regional Commission
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
5.0
|
3.0
|
7.5
|
7.5
|
|
Southeast Crescent Regional Commission
|
0.3
|
0.3
|
0
|
0.3
|
0
|
0.3
|
|
Federal Coordinator of Alaska Gas Projects
|
1.0
|
0
|
1.0
|
1.0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Total
|
265.1
|
269.0
|
280.9
|
297.8
|
300.5
|
341.7
|
Source: H.R. 83 Explanatory Statement, agency budget requests, H.Rept. 113-486
, CBO, Senate Appropriations
Committee.
Notes:, S.Rept. 114-54, CBO, H.R. 2029 explanatory statement.
Note: Figures may not add due to rounding.
Congressional Hearings
Congressional Hearings
The following hearings
have beenwere held by the Energy and Water Development subcommittees of
the House and Senate Appropriations Committees on the FY2016 budget request. Testimony and
20
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Net funding for the Western Area Power Administration includes the Colorado River Basins Power Marketing Fund.
Congressional Research Service
20
Energy and Water Development: FY2016 Appropriations
.
opening statements are posted on most of the web pages cited for each hearing, along with
webcasts in many cases.
House
•
HouseArmy Corps of Engineers, Civil Works, February 11, 2015,
http://appropriations.house.gov/calendararchive/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=
393968.
•
393968.
Bureau of Reclamation, February 12, 2015, http://appropriations.house.gov/
calendararchive/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=393969
.
•
.
Department of Energy, February 26, 2015, http://appropriations.house.gov/
calendararchive/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=393992
.
•
.
Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, Weapons
Activities Activities, March 4, 2015, http://appropriations.house.gov/calendararchive/
eventsingle.aspx?EventID=394016
.
•
.
Department of Energy, Applied Energy Programs, March 17, 2015,
http://appropriations.house.gov/calendararchive/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=
394035.
•
394035.
Department of Energy, Office of Science, March 17, 2015,
http://appropriations.house.gov/calendararchive/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=
394041.
•
394041.
Department of Energy, Environmental Management, March 18, 2015,
http://appropriations.house.gov/calendararchive/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=
394044.
•
394044.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, March 24, 2015,
http://appropriations.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=394071
.
•
.
National Nuclear Security Administration, Nuclear Nonproliferation and Naval
Reactors Reactors, March 25, 2015, http://appropriations.house.gov/calendar/
eventsingle.aspx?EventID=394081
.
Senate
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•
.SenateArmy Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation, February 11, 2015,
http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings-and-testimony/energy-
waterdevelopmentwater-development-subcommittee-fy16-army-corps-engineers-bureau
.
•
.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission, March 4, 2015,
http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings-and-testimony/energy-
waterdevelopmentwater-development-subcommittee-fy16-nuclear-regulatory-commission
.
•
.
National Nuclear Security Administration, March 11, 2015,
http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/hearings-and-testimony/energy-
waterdevelopmentwater-development-subcommittee-fy16-national-nuclear-security
.
Congressional Research Service
21
Energy and Water Development: FY2016 Appropriations
.
•
.Department of Energy, March 25, 2015, http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/
event/energy-water-development-subcommittee-hearing-fy16-us-departmentenergy-budget.
Author Contact Information
Mark Holt
Specialist in Energy Policy
mholt@crs.loc.gov, 7-1704
Key Policy Staff
c11173008
Area of Expertise
Name
General
Mark Holt
7-1704
mholt@crs.loc.gov
Corps of Engineers
Charles V. Stern
Nicole Carter
7-7786
7-0854
cstern@crs.loc.gov
ncarter@crs.loc.gov
Bureau of Reclamation
Charles V. Stern
Betsy Cody
7-7786
7-7229
cstern@crs.loc.gov
bcody@crs.loc.gov
Solar and Renewable Energy
Fred Sissine
7-7039
fsissine@crs.loc.gov
Nuclear Energy
Mark Holt
7-1704
mholt@crs.loc.gov
Science Programs
Heather B. Gonzalez
7-1895
hgonzalez@crs.loc.gov
Nuclear Weapons Stewardship
Jonathan Medalia
7-7632
jmedalia@crs.loc.gov
Nonproliferation
Mary Beth Nikitin
7-7745
mnikitin@crs.loc.gov
DOE Environmental Management
David Bearden
7-2390
dbearden@crs.loc.gov
Power Marketing Administrations
Charles V. Stern
7-7786
cstern@crs.loc.gov
Bonneville Power Administration
Charles V. Stern
7-7786
cstern@crs.loc.gov
Fossil Energy Research
Peter Folger
7-1517
pfolger@crs.loc.gov
Strategic Petroleum Reserve
Anthony Andrews
7-6843
aandrews@crs.loc.gov
Energy Conservation
Fred Sissine
7-7039
fsissine@crs.loc.gov
Congressional Research Service
Phone
Email
22
event/energy-water-development-subcommittee-hearing-fy16-us-department-energy-budget.
Author Contact Information
[author name scrubbed], Specialist in Energy Policy
([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])
Key Policy Staff
|
Area of Expertise
|
Name
|
Phone
|
Email
|
|
General
|
[author name scrubbed]
|
[phone number scrubbed]
|
[email address scrubbed]
|
Corps of Engineers
|
[author name scrubbed]Nicole Carter
[phone number scrubbed] [phone number scrubbed]
[email address scrubbed] [email address scrubbed]
|
Bureau of Reclamation
|
[author name scrubbed]Betsy Cody
[phone number scrubbed][phone number scrubbed]
[email address scrubbed] [email address scrubbed]
|
|
Solar and Renewable Energy
|
[author name scrubbed]
|
[phone number scrubbed]
|
[email address scrubbed]
|
|
Nuclear Energy
|
[author name scrubbed]
|
[phone number scrubbed]
|
[email address scrubbed]
|
|
Science Programs
|
[author name scrubbed]
|
[phone number scrubbed]
|
[email address scrubbed]
|
|
Nuclear Weapons Stewardship
|
Amy Woolf
|
[phone number scrubbed]
|
[email address scrubbed]
|
|
Nonproliferation
|
Mary Beth Nikitin
|
[phone number scrubbed]
|
[email address scrubbed]
|
|
DOE Environmental Management
|
David Bearden
|
[phone number scrubbed]
|
[email address scrubbed]
|
|
Power Marketing Administrations
|
[author name scrubbed]
|
[phone number scrubbed]
|
[email address scrubbed]
|
|
Bonneville Power Administration
|
[author name scrubbed]
|
[phone number scrubbed]
|
[email address scrubbed]
|
|
Fossil Energy Research
|
[author name scrubbed]
|
[phone number scrubbed]
|
[email address scrubbed]
|
|
Strategic Petroleum Reserve
|
[author name scrubbed]
|
[phone number scrubbed]
|
[email address scrubbed]
|
|
Energy Conservation
|
[author name scrubbed]
|
[phone number scrubbed]
|
[email address scrubbed]
|
Footnotes
| 1.
|
Bill totals include some rescissions and other adjustments.
|
| 2.
|
For details, see the Explanatory Statement for the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, Division D, Congressional Record, December 17, 2015, Book II, p. H10056, https://www.congress.gov/crec/2015/12/17/CREC-2015-12-17-bk2.pdf. The grand total in the Explanatory Statement includes $26.9 million in rescissions but excludes $111.1 million in additional scorekeeping adjustments that would reduce the grand total to $37.2 billion, the subcommittee allocation shown in S.Rept. 114-197. See Senate Committee on Appropriations, Comparative Statement of New Budget Authority FY2016, January 12, 2016, p. 11.
|
| 3.
|
Office of Management and Budget, Statement of Administration Policy, H.R. 2018—Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016, April 28, 2015, https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/114/legislative_sap_date_2015.
|
| 4.
|
Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers, 80 Federal Register 37054, June 29, 2015.
|
| 5.
|
For details, see CRS Report R42625, The Obama Administration's Proposal to Establish a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation, by [author name scrubbed]
|
| 6.
|
See the DOE WIPP website for status information: http://www.wipp.energy.gov/wipprecovery/recovery.html.
|
| 7.
|
DOE, "Water Energy Tech Team," undated website, http://www.energy.gov/water-energy-tech-team.
|
| 8.
|
For detailed background on the WRRDA 2014 legislation, see CRS Report R43298, Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014: Comparison of Select Provisions, by [author name scrubbed] et al.
|
| 9.
|
While congressional earmarks make up a relatively small percentage of most agency budgets, a significant number of Corps projects historically received additional funding from Congress for construction or operational expenditures.
|
| 10.
|
In recent years, Congress has provided the Corps funding above the President's request in appropriations legislation and provided guidance to the agency on how to distribute the additional funding for several broad categories of projects in accompanying reports or explanatory text. Generally, Congress has instructed the Corps to make additional project level allocations in a "work plan" and report back to Congress. Some of the categories to be funded in the work plan were designated by Congress as only being available for projects which were not included in the Administration's budget request. Recent Work Plan allocations are available at http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Budget.aspx.
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| 11.
|
The Water and Related Resources Account is largely funded by the Reclamation Fund, which receives and distributes receipts related to a number of federal activities (including royalties received from oil and gas leasing on federal lands). For more on this fund and financing of selected Reclamation Projects, see CRS Report R41844, The Reclamation Fund: A Primer, by [author name scrubbed].
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| 12.
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DOE, EERE-Advanced Manufacturing Office, FY14 Budget At-a-Glance, http://www1.eere.energy.gov/office_eere/pdfs/budget/manufacturing_ataglance_2014.pdf.
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| 13.
|
DOE, Grid Modernization Multi-Year Program Plan, November 2015, http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2016/01/f28/Grid%20Modernization%20Multi-Year%20Program%20Plan.pdf.
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| 14.
|
DOE Office of Nuclear Energy, "Small Modular Nuclear Reactors," http://www.energy.gov/ne/nuclear-reactor-technologies/small-modular-nuclear-reactors.
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| 15.
|
For details on the SPR, see CRS Report R41687, The Strategic Petroleum Reserve and Refined Product Reserves: Authorization and Drawdown Policy, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed].
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| 16.
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DOE, FY2016 Budget Justification, Volume 4, http://www.energy.gov/cfo/downloads/fy-2016-budget-justification.
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| 17.
|
In 1989, DOE created the Office of Environmental Restoration and Waste Management, which later was renamed the Office of Environmental Management.
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| 18.
|
The term "cleanup" often is used in reference to the remediation of risks at a site. Cleanup may be accomplished through various means to prevent potentially harmful levels of exposure to wastes and contamination. Cleanup may not necessarily entail the removal of all hazards from a site, but in some instances may involve the permanent containment of wastes or contamination to address exposure risks. If residual wastes or contamination remains on-site after cleanup is complete, long-term stewardship may continue to monitor residual wastes or contamination and ensure that cleanup measures continue to operate effectively.
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| 19.
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For additional information on the history, mission, and scope of the Office of Environmental Management, see DOE's website: http://energy.gov/em/office-environmental-management.
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| 20.
|
For an interactive map and listing of each site, see DOE's Office of Environmental Management website, http://energy.gov/em/cleanup-sites. There are links to separate maps for active and completed sites.
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| 21.
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The Office of Legacy Management administers the long-term stewardship of DOE sites that do not have a continuing mission once cleanup remedies are in place. Sites that have a continuing mission are transferred to the DOE offices that administer those missions, which are responsible for their long-term stewardship.
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| 22.
|
Department of Energy, Office of Chief Financial Officer, FY2016 Congressional Budget Request, February 2015, Volume 5, Environmental Management, p. 89.
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| 23.
|
Department of Energy, Office of Chief Financial Officer, FY2016 Congressional Budget Request, February 2015, Volume 5, Environmental Management, p. 5. See p. 90 for a list of the 16 sites where cleanup is planned to continue in FY2016. One of these 16 sites, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico, is not a cleanup site itself, but is a permanent, geologic repository for "transuranic" wastes that are removed from other DOE sites for disposal.
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| 24.
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42 U.S.C. §2297g.
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| 25.
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42 U.S.C. §2296a.
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| 26.
|
Compliance agreements for individual sites are available on DOE's Office of Environmental Management website: http://energy.gov/em/compliance-documents.
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| 27.
|
Net funding for the Western Area Power Administration includes the Colorado River Basins Power Marketing Fund.
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