Who will be held accountable for this massive rip-off of US
taxpayers?
Secretary of Energy Perry delivered to Congress the “waiver” – in the form of a memo on the lifecycle cost estimate of the non-MOX “dilute and dispose” option – on termination of the MOX project on May 10. At the end of 30 days, he can halt the spending of funds on MOX construction.
Depending on how you count 30 days – unclear if it excludes weekend – Secretary Perry could halt spending on MOX construction in mid-June. If you know the exact date or if MOX workers have yet been informed – we’re not sure if they have – please let us know: srswatch@gmail.com.
While Congress may comment on the “waiver” memo language, it looks like the Omnibus spending legislation passed in March and the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2018 gave Secretary Perry full authority to stop spending on the MOX boondoggle.
Language in the Omnibus on the waiver & the 30-day period:
(c) If the Secretary waives the requirements of sec-
tion 3121(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2018, the Secretary–
(1) shall concurrently submit to the Committees
on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress the
lifecycle cost estimate used to make the certification
under section 3121(b) of such Act; and
(2) may not use funds provided for the Project
to eliminate such Project until the date that is 30
days after the submission of the lifecycle cost esti-
mate required under paragraph (1).