Defense Cleanup and Environmental Programs: Authorization and Appropriations for FY2005
Abstract
The Department of Defense (DOD) administers five environmental programs: environmental cleanup, compliance, pollution prevention, environmental technology, and conservation. The Department of Energy (DOE) manages defense nuclear waste and cleans up contaminated nuclear weapons sites. In the second session of the 108th Congress, the most controversial issues regarding these activities were whether to provide further exemptions for military readiness activities from certain air quality and hazardous waste cleanup requirements, and whether to provide DOE with the authority to classify certain radioactive tank wastes at nuclear weapons sites in Idaho, South Carolina, and Washington in a manner that would permit these wastes to be permanently disposed of on-site in those states. The Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for FY2005 (P.L. 108-375, H.R. 4200) authorizes $1.35 billion for cleanup at active military installations and Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS), $40 million more than requested. The increase is for cleanup at FUDS sites. The law authorizes the Administrations request of $246 million in new funds for environmental cleanup at base closure sites. Total funding for cleanup at these sites would be $322 million, including the use of unobligated balances and proceeds from land sales and leases from base closures. Funding for DODs other environmental activities is authorized under several larger accounts. The law also authorizes $6.96 billion for DOEs cleanup of nuclear weapons sites, slightly more than requested, and provides targeted authority for permanent on-site disposal of radioactive tank wastes in Idaho and South Carolina. The law does not include the environmental exemptions from air quality and hazardous waste cleanup requirements that DOD requested.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 20, 2004
- Accession Number
- AD1172038
Entities
People
- David M. Bearden
Organizations
- Library of Congress