The California Institute for Federal Policy Research
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SPECIAL REPORT: Senate FY 2006 Energy & Water Appropriations Report and California Implications — September 2005


[click here for pdf version]


On July 1, 2005, the Senate passed H.R. 2419, the Fiscal Year 2006 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act by a vote of 92-3. The $31 billion bill makes appropriations for the Department of Energy and the Corps of Engineers. The bill exceeds the President’s request and the House-passed bill by $1.49 billion, and exceeds the current year funding level by $1.4 billion.

The following is a quick analysis of the bill from a California perspective as prepared by the California Institute. We apologize for any errors or omissions in our discussion of these documents, and would appreciate any input/feedback on how to make improving corrections. The ordering of items generally reflects their presence in the bill and does not mean to imply any relative importance.

This report is available on the web at http://www.calinst.org/pubs/ew06s.htm or in pdf format at http://www.calinst.org/pubs/ew06s.pdf .

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

CORPS OF ENGINEERS

The fiscal year 2006 budget request for the Corps of Engineers is composed of $4.332 billion in new budgetary authority and $181 billion in offsetting collections from the Power Marketing Authorities for a total program of $4,513 billion. The Committee recommends a total of $5,298 billion for the Corps of Engineers, an increase of $612,452,000 from fiscal year 2005 enacted levels (adjusted for one-time emergency spending of $372,400,000).

The Committee recommendation is $966,000,000 above the request. The Committee Report states: the "recommendation provides for a robust planning program as well as providing significant increases to the construction and operation and maintenance accounts. Unfortunately, even with this large increase the Committee recommendation falls short of what is actually needed to provide efficient levels of funding for all on-going work."

Beach Policy

The Report states: "The Committee is disappointed that the administration has included another ‘new’ beach policy. Beaches are the leading tourist destination in the United States. California beaches alone receive nearly 600 million tourist visits annually. This is more tourist visits than to all of the lands controlled by the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management combined. Beach tourists contribute $260,000,000,000 to the U.S. economy and $60,000,000,000 in Federal taxes. Last year Congress provided legislation that beach policies will not be changed except by congressional direction. Congress has repeatedly demonstrated that the current beach policy is satisfactory. The Committee has attempted to provide sufficient funding for a number of the most critical shore protection projects."

 

General Investigations (in thousands)

Aliso Creek Mainstem – $350 requested, $450 House recommended, $350 Senate recommendation

Arana Gulch Watershed – $100 requested, $0 House, $100 Senate recommended

Arroyo Seco Watershed – $0 requested, $0 House, $300 Senate

Ballonna Creek Ecosystem Restoration – $0 requested, $0 House, $450 Senate

Bolinas Lagoon Ecosystem Restoration – $0 requested, $200 House, $200 Senate

California Coastal Sediment Master Plan – $600 requested, $900 House, $600 recommended

Carpinteria Shoreline Study – $0 requested, $0 House, $200 Senate

City of Inglewood – $0 requested, $0 House, $275 Senate

City of Norwalk – $0 requested, $0 House, $160 Senate

City of Santa Clarita – $0 requested, $0 House, $200 Senate

Coast of CA, South Coast Region (LA County) – $0 requested, $0 House, $300 Senate

Coyote Dam – $0 requested, $0 House, $250 Senate

Coyote Creek – $100 requested, $100 House, $100 Senate recommended

Desert Hot Springs – $0 requested, $200 House recommended, $0 Senate

Eastern Municipal Water District – $0 requested, $1 million House, $0 Senate recommended

Estudillo Canal – $600 requested, $900 House recommended, $600 Senate

Grayson and Murderer’s Creek – $0 requested, $0 House, $200 Senate

Hamiliton City – $0 Requested, $0 House, $750 Senate

Humbolt Bay Long Term Shoal Mgmt – $0 requested, $0 House, $250 Senate

Laguna Creek Watershed – $0 requested, $0 House, $200 Senate

Laguna De Santa Rosa – $300 requested, $400 House, $300 Senate

Laguna Creek – $0 requested, $0 House, $900 Senate

Los Angeles County Drainage Area, Cornfields – $600 requested, $1,300 House, $600 Senate

Los Angeles County – $850 requested, $850 House, $850 Senate recommended

Malibu Creek Watershed – $167 requested, $0 House, $167 Senate recommended

Matilija Dam – $800 requested, $1,100 recommended, $800 Senate

Mugu Lagoon – $82 requested, $82 House, $82 Senate recommended

Napa River Salt Marsh Restoration – $0 requested, $250 House, $0 Senate recommended

Napa Valley Watershed Mgmt – $500 requested, $500 House, $0 Senate recommended

Ocean Beach – $0 requested, $350 House recommended, $0 Senate

Orange County Samp – $0 requested, $0 House, $169 Senate

Pajaro River at Watsonville – $477 requested, $1,000 House, $477 Senate recommended

Peninsula Beach – $308 requested, $308 recommended, $308 Senate

Redwood City Navigation Channel – $0 requested, $0 House, $250 Senate

Russian River Ecosystem Restoration – $400 requested, $600 recommended, $400 Senate

Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, Islands and Levees – $200 requested, $0 House, $900 Senate

San Bernardo Lakes and Streams – $0 requested, $250 recommended, $0 Senate

San Clemente Shoreline – $188 requested, $188 House recommended, $188 Senate

San Diego County Shoreline – $0 requested, $0 House, $200 Senate

San Francisquito Creek – $200 requested, $300 recommended, $200 Senate

San Jacinto River – $0 requested, $50 House, $0 Senate recommended

San Joaquin Valley Region – $0 requested, $0 House, $100 Senate

San Juan Creek, S. Orange County – $0 requested, $350 recommended, $350 Senate

San Pablo Bay Watershed – $300 requested, $600 House, $300 Senate recommended

Santa Ana River & Tributaries, Big Bear Lake – $900 requested, $1,400 House, $900 Senate

Santa Rosa Creek Ecosystem Restoration – $400 requested, $400 House, $400 Senate

Santa Clara River Watershed – $0 requested, $0 House, $500 Senate

Solana Beach/Encinitas Shoreline Protection Study – $0 requested, $750 House, $0 Senate

Sonoma Creek & Tributaries – $300 requested, $0 House, $300 Senate recommended

South San Francisco Shoreline Study – $600 requested, $600 House, $800 Senate recommended

Sun Valley Watershed – $0 requested, $100 House, $250 Senate recommended

Sutter County – $361 requested, $361 House, $361 Senate recommended

Tahoe Basin – $0 requested, $0 House, $1,720 Senate recommended

The Coyote Creek – Lower San Gabriel Watershed – $500 requested, $500 House, $500 Senate

Upper Penitencia Creek- $628 requested, $628 House, $628 Senate recommended

Ventura and Santa Barbara – $0 requested, $0 House, $200 Senate recommended

Westminster, East Garden Grove – $650 requested, $650 House, $650 Senate recommended

West Stanislaus County, Orestimba Creek – $0 requested, $0 House, $200 Senate

Wildcat and San Pablo Creeks – $0 requested, $0 House, $150 Senate

Wilson and Oak Glen Creeks, San Bernardino – $0 requested, $400 House, $0 Senate

 

Coyote, CA – $100,000 has been provided for this new reconnaissance study as provided in the budget request.

Napa Valley Watershed Management, CA – The Committee has deleted funding for this study as local interests have indicated a desire to terminate the study in fiscal year 2005.

Orange County Special Area Management Plan [SAMP], CA – $169,000 has been provided to complete the SAMP.

San Joaquin Valley Area, CA – The Committee has provided $100,000 to initiate a reconnaissance study of the San Joaquin Valley in California (consisting of Stanislaus, Madera, Merced, Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Kern Counties).

Tahoe Basin, CA and NV – $1,700,000 has been provided for continuation of PED.

Coastal Field Data Collection – The Committee has provided $6,375,000 for this program. Within the funds provided, $1,000,000 is for the Coastal Data Information Program, $1,000,000 is for the Southern California Beach Processes Study, $1,500,000 is for the Pacific Island Land Ocean Typhoon Experiment [PILOT] and $1,000,000 is for the Surge and Wave Island Modeling Studies [SWIMS].

Construction (in thousands)

American River Wtrshd (combined) – $28,960 requested, $28960 House recommended, $0 Senate:

American River Wtrshd (Common Features) – $0 Requested, $0 House, $3,000 Senate

American River Wtrshd (Folsom Dam Mod.) – $0 Requested, $0 House, $15,850 Senate

American River Wtrshd (Folsom Dam Mini Raise) – $0 Requested, $0 House, $12,000 Senate

City of Santa Clarita – $0 Requested, $200 House, $250 Senate

Corte Madera Creek Flood Control – $0 requested, $200 House, $250 Senate recommended

Coyote and Berryessa Creeks – $0 Requested, $0 House, $500 Senate

Guadalupe River – $5,600 requested, $5, 600 House, $5,600 Senate

Hamilton Airfield Wetlands Restoration – $13,000 requested, $13,000 House, $13,000 Senate

Harbor/S. Bay Wtr Recycling Prjct, Los Angeles – $0 requested, $4,000 House, $4,000 Senate

Kaweah River – $4,300 requested, $4,085 House, $4,800 Senate recommended

LA Harbor Main Channel Deepening $2,700 requested, $2,700 House, $2,732 Senate

Lower Walnut Creek Basin Study – $$0 requested, $250 recommended, $0 Senate

Marysville/Yuba City Levee Reconstruction – $0 Requested, $0 House, $372 Senate

Murietta Creek – $0 Requested, $0 House, $5,000 Senate

Napa River – $6,000 requested, $6,000 House, $16,000 Senate recommended

Oakland Harbor (50 Foot Project) – $48,000 requested, $48,000 House, $42,000 Senate

Sacramento Area – $0 requested, $6,000 House, $0 Senate recommended

Sacramento River Bank Protection Project – $0 requested, $6,300 House, $0 Senate

San Francisco Bay to Stockton – $0 requested, $250 House, $0 Senate recommended

Santa Ana River Mainstem – $50,000 requested, $61,650 House, $42,500 Senate

San Lorenzo River – $0 Requested, $0 House, $1,000 Senate recommended

San Ramon Valley Recycled Water – $0 requested, $0 House, $3,000 Senate

South Sacramento County Streams – $2,852 requested, $2,852 recommended, $5,000 Senate

Stockton Metropolitan Flood Cntrl Reimbursmnt – $5,000 requested, $5,000 House, $5,000 Senate recommended

Success Dam, Tule River – $8,000 requested, $8,000 House, $8,000 Senate recommended

Surfside, Sunset, and Newport Beaches – $0 requested, $0 House, $40 Senate

Upper Guadalupe River – $0 Requested, $0 House, $3,250 Senate

Upper Newport Bay Ecosystem Restoration – $0 requested, $2,000 House, $7,000 Senate

Yuba River Basin – $0 requested, $200 House, $1,200 Senate recommended

American River Watershed – The Committee Report states that "The Committee has chosen not to combine the various, separately authorized, components of the project into a single line item as was proposed in the budget. The Committee believes that it is prudent to maintain visibility of the various project elements in the budget process. However, for purposes of reprogramming actions, the three elements should be treated as a single project when considering the reprogramming guidance provided in an earlier section of this report."

American River Watershed (Folsom Dam Miniraise) – The Committee has provided $12,000,000. Within the funds provided, $7,000,000 is for construction of the bridge.

Kaweah River – The Committee has provided $4,800,000 to complete this project.

Oakland Harbor – The Committee has provided $42,000,000 to continue construction of this project. The Report states: "The reduction made to this project should not be viewed as any diminution of support for this project, rather an attempt to balance out the Corps of Engineers nationwide program among the various missions of the Corps."

Santa Ana River Mainstem – The Committee has provided $42,500,000 to continue construction of this project. The Report states: "No funds are included for the San Timoteo reach of the project. The reduction made to this project should not be viewed as any diminution of support for this project, rather an attempt to balance out the Corps of Engineers nationwide program among the various missions of the Corps."

Upper Guadalupe River – The Committee has included $3,500,000 to initiate construction of this project.

Small Flood Control Projects – Section 205

Heacock and Cactus Channels – $4,000,000

New Hogan Lake Reoperation – $600,000

Santa Venetia Flood Control – $91,500

Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Projects – Section 206

St Helena-Napa River Restoration – $600,000

York Creek Dam Removal – $350,000

Operations and Maintenance (in Thousands)

Black Butte Lake – $1,989 requested, $1,989 House, $1,989 Senate recommended

Buchanan Dam HV Eastman Lake – $1,781 requested, $1,781 House, $1,781 Senate recommended

Channel Islands Harbor – $310 requested, $310 House, $310 Senate recommended

Coyote Valley Dam, Lake Mendocino – $4,084 requested, $4,000 House, $4,084 Senate

Crescent City Harbor – $0 requested, $0 House, $500 Senate

Dry Creek (Warm Springs) Lake and Channel – $5,272 requested, $5,825 House, $5,272 Senate

Farmington Dam – $202 requested, $202 House, $202 Senate recommended

Hidden Dam, Hensley Lake – $2,090 requested, $2,090 House, $2,090 Senate recommended

Humboldt Harbor and Bay – $5,069 requested, $5,000 House, $5,069 Senate recommended

Inspection of Completed Works – $1,396 requested, $1,396 House, $1,396 Senate recommended

Isabella Lake – $2,291 requested, $2,291 House, $2,291 Senate recommended

Jack Maltester Channel (San Leandro) – $0 requested, $0 House, $750 Senate recommended

Los Angeles County Drainage Area – $4,287 requested, $4,287 House, $4,287 Senate

Lower Petaluma River – $0 requested, $0 House, $750 Senate recommended

Marina Del Ray – $0 requested, $0 House, $1,000 Senate recommended

Merced County Streams – $251 requested, $251 Houes, $251 Senaterecommended

Mojave River Dam – $290 requested, $290 House, $290 Senate recommended

Morro Bay Harbor – $1,616 requested, $1,616 House, $1,616 Senate recommended

Moss Landing Harbor – $0 requested, $1,475, $0 Senate recommended

Napa River – $0 requested, $0 House, $750 Senate recommended

New Hogan Lake – $1,994 requested, $1,994 House, $1,994 Senate recommended

New Melones Lake, Downstream Channel – $1,634 requested, $1,634 House, $1,634 Senate

Noyo River and Harbor – $28 requested, $28 House, $250 Senate recommended

Oakland Harbor – $6,205 requested, $6,205 House, $6,205 Senate recommended

Oceanside Harbor – $1,040 requested, $1,040 House, $1,040 Senate recommended

Pillar Point Harbor – $0 requested, $0 House, $500 Senate recommended

Pine Flat Lake – $2,831 requested, $2,831 House, $2,831 Senate recommended

Pinole Shoal management study – $0 requested, $250 House, $0 Senate recommended

Project Condition Surveys – $1,891 requested, $1,891 House, $1,891 Senate recommended

Redwood City Harbor – $4,967 requested, $4,967 House, $4,697 Senate recommended

Richmond Harbor – $7,972 requested, $7,972 House, $7,972 Senate recommended

Sacramento River (Bascule Bridge) – $0 requested, $0 House, $1,000 Senate recommended

Sacramento River (30 Foot Project) – $2,790 requested, $2,790 House, $2,790 Senate

Sacramento River and Tributaries (Debris Control) – – $1,299 requested, $1,299 House, $1,299 Senate recommended

Sacramento River Shallow Draft Channel – $119 requested, $119 House, $119 Senate

San Francisco Bay Long Term Mngmt Strategy – $0 requested, $1,600 House, $0 Senate

San Francisco Bay, Delta Model Structure – $1,185 requested, $1,185 House, $1,185 Senate

San Francisco Harbor and Bay (Drift Removal) – $2,000 requested, $2,000 House, $2,000 Senate

San Francisco Harbor – $2,223 requested, $2,223 House, $2,223 Senate recommended

San Joaquin River – $2,886 requested, $2,886 House, $2,886 Senate recommended

San Pablo Bay and Mare Island Strait – $3,320 requested, $3,320 House, $3,320 Senate

Santa Ana River Basin – $3,321 requested, $3,321 House, $3,321 Senate recommended

Santa Barbara Harbor – $1,408 requested, $1,408 House, $1,408 Senate recommended

Scheduling Reservoir Operations – $1,499 requested, $1,499 House, $1,499 Senate recommended

Success Lake – $1,809 requested, $1,809 House, $1,809 Senate recommended

Suisun Bay Channel – $5,132 requested, $5,132 House, $5,132 Senate recommended

Terminus Dam, Lake Kaweah – $1,692 requested, $1,692 House, $1,692 Senate recommended

Upper Petaluma Harbor – $0 requested, $0 House, $300 Senate recommended

Ventura Harbor – $2,200 requested, $2,200 House, $2,900 Senate recommended

Yuba River – $29 requested, $29 House, $29 Senate recommended

 

Crescent City – The Committee has provided $500,000 for the continued work on the dredge material management plan.

Sacrement River (Bascule Bridge) – The Committee has provided $1,000,000 to initiate transfer of the Bascule Bridge to the City.

General Provisions

The Committee Report modifies the navigation project for Los Angeles Harbor to authorize the Chief of Engineers to carry out the project at a total cost of $222,000,000.

$10,000,000 is authorized for a water transmission main, Alpine.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation

An appropriation of $899,569,000 is recommended by the Committee for general investigations of the Bureau of Reclamation. The water and related resources account supports the development, management, and restoration of water and related natural resources in the 17 Western States. The Report states the "account includes funds for operating and maintaining existing facilities to obtain the greatest overall level of benefits, to protect public safety, and to conduct studies on ways to improve the use of water and related natural resources."

Water and Related Resources (in Thousands)

The Committee recommendations for specific California projects are as follows (Resources Management = RM; Facilities OM&R= FOM&R):

Cachuna Project – RM $988; FOM&R $588

California Investigations Programs – RM $580; FOM&R $0

Calleguas Mun.Water Dis. Recycling Project – RM $2000; FOM&R $0

Central Valley Project:

American River Division – RM $2,060; FOM&R $7,437

Auburn-Folsom South Unit – RM $5,966; FOM&R $0

Delta Division – RM $10,441; FOM&R $5,752

East Side Division – RM $1,907; FOM&R $2,297

Friant Division – RM $2,435; FOM&R $3,481

Miscellaneous Project Programs – RM $15.074; FOM&R $1,114

Replacement Adds. & Extraordinary Maint. – RM $0; FOM&R $23,200

Sacramento River Division – RM $2,458; FOM&R $1,759

San Felipe Division – RM $846; FOM&R $0

San Joaquin Division – RM $300; FOM&R $0

Shasta Division – RM $1,050; FOM&R $7,606

Trinity River Division – RM $8,121; FOM&R $3,242

Water and Power Operations – RM $1,7107; FOM&R $10,211

West San Joaquin Div., San Luis Unit – RM $5,191; FOM&R $7,146

Yield Feasibility Investigation – RM $500; FOM&R $0

El Dorado Temperature Control Device – House RM $1,000, Senate RM $0

Lake Cachuma Water and Sewage Treatment – RM $500; FOM&R $0

Lake Tahoe Regional Wetlands Development – RM $3,000; FOM&R $0

Long Beach Area Water Reclamation & Reuse Proj. – RM $650; FOM&R $0

Long Beach Desalination Project – RM $1,250; FOM&R $0

Mission Springs Water Reuse, Desert Hot Springs – RM $150

Napa, Sonoma, Marin Agricultural Reuse Project – RM $250; FOM&R $0

N. San Diego Co. Area Water Recycling Proj. – RM $1,200; FOM&R $0

Orange Co. Reg. Water Reclam. Proj. – RM $2,250; FOM&R $0

Orland Project – RM $41; FOM&R $920

Pasadena Reclaimed Water Project – RM $160; FOM&R $0

Sacramento River Diversion Study – RM $0; FOM&R $0

Salton Sea Research Project – RM $1,000; FOM&R $0

San Diego Area Water Reclamation Proj. – RM $3,500; FOM&R $0

San Gabriel Basin Project – RM $500; FOM&R $0

San Gabriel Basin Restoration – RM $10,000; FOM&R $0

San Jose Water Reclamation and Reuse Project – RM $1,000; FOM&R $0

Santa Margarita River Conjunctive Use Proj. – RM $0; FOM&R $0

Solano Project – RM $1,502; FOM&R $2,863

Southern California Investigations Program – RM $550; FOM&R $0

Ventura River Project – RM $596; FOM&R $0

Watsonville Area Water Recycling Project – RM $0; FOM&R $0

Water Conservation Field Service Program

The Report states: "The Committee has included $300,000 for urban water conservation projects identified through the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Innovative Conservation Program that will increase water-use efficiency. In addition, $100,000 is provided for the Bureau of Reclamation to initiate a study to identify concurrent and overlapping Government programs aimed at improving water resource efficiency. It is hoped that the study will encourage agencies to look beyond their individual areas of responsibility in an effort to bring about greater resource efficiencies to the Southern California region.

Central Valley Project

Delta Division – Within the funds provided for the Delta Division, $4,000,000 is provided for the Interagency Ecological Program.

Friant Division – $200,000 has been provided for appraisal level studies of the Madera Irrigation District Water Supply Enhancement.

Miscellaneous Project Programs – Additional funds above the budget request are provided for the Kaweah River Delta Corridor Enhancement Study ($63,000) and the Sacramento Valley Regional Integrated Water Management Plan ($2,500,000).

Sacramento River Division – Additional funds above the budget request are provided to complete the Glen Colusa Irrigation District Fish Screen Improvement Project.

Trinity River Division – The Committee has provided $500,000 above the budget request for the Fishery Restoration program. These funds are to be used in concert with the $2,000,000 provided in the Central Valley Project Restoration Program to meet Federal trust responsibilities to protect the fishery resources of the Hoopa Valley Tribe. The Commissioner is urged to continue to support a Co-Management Agreement between the Hoopa Valley Tribe and the Bureau of Reclamation.

Central Valley Project Restoration Fund

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $52,219,000, the same as the budget request for the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund.

CALFED Bay-Delta Restoration Project

The Committee has provided $37,000,000, $2,000,000 above the budget request for the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. The Report states: "The Committee is aware of recent declines in the Delta smelt population in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Within the funds provided, $1,000,000 is for the Interagency Ecological Program to identify the causes of and propose remedies for the smelt’s population decline and $1,000,000 is for the Westside Regional Drainage Program in the San Luis Division of the Central Valley Project."

General Provisions

As in past years, the Committee Report states that none of the funds appropriated may be used to determine the final point of discharge for the interceptor drain for the San Luis Unit until development by the Secretary of the Interior and the State of California of a plan, which conforms to the water quality standards of the State of California as approved by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to minimize any detrimental effect of the San Luis drainage waters.

In addition, the costs of the Kesterson Reservoir Cleanup Program and the costs of the San Joaquin Valley Drainage Program must be classified by the Secretary of the Interior as reimbursable or nonreimbursable and collected until fully repaid pursuant to the `Cleanup Program-Alternative Repayment Plan’ and the `SJVDP-Alternative Repayment Plan’ described in the report entitled `Repayment Report, Kesterson Reservoir Cleanup Program and San Joaquin Valley Drainage Program, February 1995′, prepared by the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. The Report also states that any future obligations of funds by the United States relating to, or providing for, drainage service or drainage studies for the San Luis Unit shall be fully reimbursable by San Luis Unit beneficiaries of such service or studies pursuant to Federal reclamation law.

The bill includes language extending the Desalination Act by 5 years, regarding the San Luis Unit and the Kesterson Reservoir in California.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD)

The Committee recommends that "the LDRD funding ceiling be raised to effectively meet the increasing challenges faced by the laboratories to maintain their critical scientific competencies and attract and retain the best and brightest scientists. The new LDRD funding ceiling shall now be set at 8 percent (up from the current 6 percent) and PDRD and SDRD shall now be set at 4 percent (up from the current 2 percent) and continue to be annually approved by the Department.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Programs

The Committee recommendation provides $1,253,819,000 for renewable energy resources, an increase of $53,405,000 from the current year level.

Hydrogen Research – The Committee recommendation includes $182,694,000 for hydrogen research, which is consistent with the request and $13,188,000 above the current year level. The Committee also directs the Department to provide the budget request for Hydrogen Storage Centers of Excellence.

Weatherization and Intergovernmental Activities

The mission of the Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program is to develop and accelerate the adoption of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and oil displacement technologies and practices by a wide range of stakeholders.

Congressionally Directed Projects – The Committee recommendation includes the following congressionally directed projects. The Report states that the Committee has provided sufficient funding to cover the cost of these additions so as not to impact essential research:

– $500,000 for the Oxydiesel demonstration project in California and Nevada (Biomass);

– $500,000 for the Lake County Full Circle Project, CA (Geothermal); and

– $1,000,000 for the California Hydrogen Infrastructure Project (Hydrogen).

Elk Hills School Lands Fund

The Committee recommends $48,000,000, the same as the budget request, and combined with the fiscal year 2005 advance appropriation of $36,000,000, will make available a total of $84,000,000 in fiscal year 2006. The Report states: "While this represents Payment #7 in a series of seven payments, the Committee understands that the final amount due will be based on the resolution of equity determinations, which cannot be determined until all divestment-related expenses are accounted for."

Non-Defense Environmental CleanUp

The Committee recommendation provides $3,900,000 for soil and water remediation at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and $3,500,000 for soil and water remediation at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center.

Science

The Committee recommendation for the Office of Science is $3,702,718,000, an increase of $240,000,000 above the request and $102,847,000 above the current year level.

High Energy Physics

The Committee recommendation includes $716,933,000 for high energy physics, an increase of $3,000,000, to provide operational funding to ensure full utilization of facilities.

The Report states: "The Committee recognizes the critical importance of the DOE/NASA Joint Dark Energy Mission [JDEM] in answering fundamental questions about the nature and substance of the universe. Consequently, the Committee encourages the Department to move JDEM forward aggressively to ensure the timely accomplishment of this important work."

Biological and Environmental Research

Molecular Medicine – The Committee recommends $7,000,000 for UCLA Institute for Molecular Medicine to protect the public health against radiation exposure.

Congressionally Directed Projects

The Committee recommendation includes the following Congressionally directed projects, within available funds. The Committee reminds recipients that statutory cost sharing requirements may attach to these projects.

– $500,000 for the California Hospital medical Center PET/CT Fusion imaging system;

– $500,000 for the Arnold Palmer Prostate Center, CA.

Basic Energy Sciences

The Committee recommendation provides $1,241,017,000, an increase of $95,000,000.

Nanoscale Science Research Centers – The Report states: "Committee recommendation supports the high priority given to nanoscale research and has included the budget request for the nanoscale science research centers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratory, and the joint effort between Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory."

Fusion Energy Sciences

Fusion Energy – The Committee provides $290,550,000, the same as the budget request. The Report states: "The Committee has provided $28,000,000 in additional funding to ensure the full operations on the DIII–D, Alcator C-Mod, and NSTX fusion research facilities. The current budget reduces operations from 48 weeks to just 17 weeks, which the Committee believes is an irresponsible use of the taxpayer investment in these facilities. The Committee has reduced funding for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor [ITER] by $28,000,000, equal to the amount domestic research has been increased. The Committee is disappointed that a decision has not been made in selecting a site for the location of this international burning plasma user facility. Without a final decision on a location or allocation, the Committee is skeptical the Department will be able to expend the full budget request for this project in fiscal year 2006. If a site is selected, the Committee will work with the Department to provide an allocation that is consistent with the expected needs for this project. Within available funds, the Committee includes $1,000,000 for non-defense research activities at the Atlas Pulse Power facility."

Inertial Confinement Fusion and High Yield

The Committee recommends $314,023,000, a reduction of $4,482,000 from the budget request for the Inertial Confinement Fusion and High Yield Campaign. This allocation restores $61,000,000 in funding to the Support of Stockpile and Inertial Fusion Technology program that was cut from the budget request.

National Ignition Facility [NIF] – The Report states: "The Committee is disappointed in the long-term funding outlook for Weapons Activities contained in the fiscal year 2006 FYNSP. Compared to the budget request in fiscal year 2005, Weapons Activities funding is reduced by $3,000,000,000 over the next 5 years. This decline is likely to have significant programmatic impacts and drastically curtail NNSA’s scientific capabilities. It is difficult to conceive of a single program not being severely impacted, including NIF, as a result of the declining budget. The Committee is cognizant that the modest funding reduction of $25,000,000 in fiscal year 2005 to the NIF program forced NNSA managers to rebaseline the entire project. As a result of the rebaselining effort, the NNSA has made the decision to support the NIF construction effort at the expense of the Inertial Confinement Fusion and High Yield Campaigns, putting in jeopardy critical high energy stewardship research at Los Alamos, Sandia, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories. The fiscal year 2006 budget cuts experimental programs that are essential in obtaining scientific data for ASC codes. The budget proposes the elimination of the Inertial Fusion Technology program that supported research on the Z machine and High Average Power Laser program. Currently, NIF is able to operate four beamlines, making NIF the most powerful laser in the world. The NNSA has not completed the rebaselining of the NIF program, and the Committee directs that no funds be expended on project 96–D–111 in order to focus on supporting a comprehensive stewardship program."

NIF Demonstration – The Committee recommends $50,000,000 to support the NIF Demonstration program. The committee directs the NNSA to use this funding to support Stockpile Stewardship responsibilities necessary for closeout costs or other impacts as a result of the halt in construction and installation.

Readiness In Technical Base and Facilities

Special Projects – The Committee recommendation includes $19,869,000 for special projects, including:

– $2,000,000 for Rapid Prototyping activities at the Special Technology Laboratory in Santa Barbara, CA to accelerate development of sensor and live plume tracking capabilities at the Nevada Test Site.


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