– September 10, 2018 – MOX Cut by a Massive One-third, and Spending on MOX Construction can be Waived
MOX TO BE DEVASTATED! When passed by the full Congress, the $220 million/year funding will righly and belatedly place the MOX boondoggle firmly on a termination track. Yet more workers to jump ship & be pushed off it…they should get a good severance package and help with finding new jobs.
In Energy & Water appropriations documents posted late on September 10, 2018, the construction budget for MOX is being cut from $335 million in Fiscal Year 2018 to $220 million in Fiscal Year 2019. If finalized, this would result in huge staff layoffs at the MOX project and cause further downsizing of a project that already isn’t viable.
The final bits of meat are being stripped from the MOX skeleton, which can’t endure a hammer blow like this.
Conference Report is at:
https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Conference%20Report%20to%20accompany%20H.R.%205895.pdf
Joint Explanatory Statement is at:
https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Joint%20Explanatory%20Statement%20H.R.%205895.pdf
Note: Language in the explanatory statement allows for spending on MOX construction to be waived, as it accepts that language as included in the National Defense Authorization Act of FY 2019, which has already passed. “MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility, SRS.-In lieu of language in the House and Senate reports, the conferees include funds for the project consistent with the amounts and uses authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019.” (page 50)
Documents above linked on Senate Appropriations website: www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/conferees-reach-final-agreement-first-appropriations-minibus-filed
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 report with waiver language – Section 3119: “USE OF FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND PROJECT SUPPORT ACTIVITIES RELATING TO MOX FACILITY” https://www.congress.gov/115/crpt/hrpt874/CRPT-115hrpt874.pdf