This is a comprehensive budget that will allow us to efficiently and effectively achieve our mission,” said NRC Chairman Gregory B. Jaczko. “We look forward to the opportunity to discuss this budget request in more detail with Congress
– By Mark McFadden –
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has requested $1.05 billion in its Fiscal Year 2011 budget proposal to Congress to regulate nuclear power plants and users of nuclear materials to protect people and the environment. The budget represents a $13.3 million decrease from the FY 2010 budget that was enacted by Congress last year.
“This is a comprehensive budget that will allow us to efficiently and effectively achieve our mission,” said NRC Chairman Gregory B. Jaczko. “We look forward to the opportunity to discuss this budget request in more detail with Congress.”
Decreases from the FY 2010 budget are primarily due to decreases in the high-level waste repository program and a decrease in the number of operating nuclear power plant license renewal applications expected in FY 2011. Decreases are offset by slight increases in regulatory activities for new reactor and nuclear fuel facility applications. The budget breakout is as follows:
Nuclear Reactor Safety $804.1 million
Nuclear Materials and Waste Safety $239.4 million
Inspector General $10.1 million
Total $1,053.6 million
By law, the NRC recovers approximately 90 percent of its budget from user fees, less an appropriation from the Nuclear Waste Fund (NWF) and other activities which are not fee recoverable. As such, the NRC’s FY 2011 budget request would be financed with approximately $915.3 million from user fees and the NWF, resulting in a net appropriation of approximately $138.3 million.
The detailed NRC budget (NUREG-1100, Vol. 26) and briefing slides summarizing the budget are available on NRC’s Web site at: http://nrc.gov at the bottom left-hand corner and http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1100/v26/. Contact the Office of Public Affairs for a hard copy of NUREG-1100 by calling (301) 415-8200 or e-mailing OPA.Resource@nrc.gov.