NRC NEWS

 U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 

 Office of Public Affairs Telephone: 301/415-8200

 Washington, DC 20555-0001 E-mail: opa@nrc.gov 

 Web Site: www.nrc.gov

No. 03-016 February 3, 2003

NRC ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF FY 2004 BUDGET

 AND MEDIA TELECONFERENCE

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has submitted its budget to Congress for Fiscal Year 2004,

requesting $626.1 million for regulation of the nation’s nuclear power plants and nuclear materials to

protect public health and safety, to promote the common defense and security, and to protect the

environment. 

The budget includes $53 million for homeland security activities, primarily to improve the

control of radioactive material and strengthen security at NRC-licensed facilities.

To keep pace with the renewed interest in possible construction of new nuclear power plants, the

budget provides $33.5 million for new reactor initiatives that includes design and site application

reviews, improvements to our regulations, and research to support staff’s assessment of new

technologies. It also includes $19.7 million to review nuclear power plant license renewal applications. 

The FY 2004 budget of $626.1 million represents a $41.1 million (approximately seven percent)

increase above the current fiscal year. About 75 percent of the increase ($31.6 million) is needed for

additional homeland security and new reactor licensing activities. The remainder of the increase is for

Federal pay and benefit cost increases; reactor license renewal; keeping pace with the Department of

Energy’s High-Level Waste program; and additional investments in the agency’s information

technology, and facilities.

Funding for each of the agency’s strategic arenas and the Inspector General is as follows:

 Million

Nuclear Reactor Safety $305.8

 Nuclear Materials Safety $ 71.2 

Nuclear Waste Safety $ 70.1 

International Nuclear Safety Support $ 5.4 

Management and Support $166.3 

Inspector General $ 7.3
The budget for Nuclear Reactor Safety provides resources for regulatory oversight and

inspection of the 104 reactors licensed to operate, license renewal and new license activities, and

research to ensure that licensees design, construct and operate civilian nuclear reactor facilities in a safe

manner. The budget for Nuclear Materials Safety supports oversight and inspection of 37 fuel cycle

facilities, licensing and inspection of approximately 4,900 nuclear materials licenses, and supporting

research to assure safety of facilities and materials. For Nuclear Waste Safety, resources provide for

high-level radioactive waste activities, oversight of spent fuel storage and transportation, and nuclear

facility decommissioning, and supporting research which includes studies on spent fuel transportation

casks and storage in dry casks. Resources for International Nuclear Safety Support allow the agency to

continue working with foreign countries and international organizations to help enhance safe and secure

civilian uses of nuclear energy, and to help deter nuclear proliferation. The budget for Management and

Support covers administrative services (including rent and facilities management), personnel services,

information technology, financial management, and policy support for the agency.

NRC staff will be available by teleconference to respond to media inquiries about the budget on

Tuesday, February 4, at 1:00 p.m. Participants in this teleconference will need to call 1/800-638-8081

or 301-231-5539 and enter the passcode 1818# when prompted. Media questions in advance are

encouraged and should be provided to NRC’s Office of Public Affairs (OPA) by telephone to 301-415-

8200 or by e-mail to OPA@nrc.gov.

More detailed information on the budget (NUREG 1100, Vol. 19) will be available on the web

at: http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/nuregs/staff/sr1100/ or may be purchased from the

Government Printing Office, telephone 202-512-1800. A limited number of hard copies are available

from OPA.

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