DoE's $20.9 billion appropriation is $920 million above FY '02. Although it provides $130 million less than the administration sought for the nuclear waste management programme - which is developing the Yucca Mountain repository - it is substantially higher than last year's $336 million.
The bill granted the state of Nevada £2.5 million to conduct scientific oversight and participate in licensing activities at Yucca Mountain. An additional $7 million was provided to local governments for similar repository-related oversight.
Funding for the nuclear waste management programme will be provided by the Nuclear Waste Fund ($145 million), and by the DoE defence waste account ($315 million).
