54564 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 202 / Monday, October 20, 1997 / Notices

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND

BUDGET

Cancellation Pursuant to Line Item

Veto Act; Energy and Water

Development Appropriations Act, 1998

October 17, 1997.

One Special Message from the

President under the Line Item Veto Act

is published below. The President

signed this message on October 17,

1997. Under the Act, the message is

required to be printed in the Federal

Register (2 U.S.C. 691a(c)(2)).

Clarence C. Crawford,

Associate Director for Administration.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

Washington,

October 17, 1997.

Dear Mr. President:

In accordance with the Line Item Veto Act,

I hereby cancel the dollar amounts of

discretionary budget authority, as specified

in the attached reports, contained in the

‘‘Energy and Water Development

Appropriations Act, 1998’’ (H.R. 2203,

approved October 13, 1997). I have

determined that the cancellation of these

amounts will reduce the Federal budget

deficit, will not impair any essential

Government functions, and will not harm the

national interest. This letter, together with its

attachments, constitutes a special message

under section 1022 of the Congressional

Budget and Impoundment Control Act of

1974, as amended.

Sincerely,

William J. Clinton

The Honorable Albert Gore, Jr.,

President of the Senate, Washington, D.C.

20510.

THE WHITE HOUSE,

Washington,

October 17, 1997.

Dear Mr. Speaker:

In accordance with the Line Item Veto Act,

I hereby cancel the dollar amounts of

discretionary budget authority, as specified

in the attached reports, contained in the

‘‘Energy and Water Development

Appropriations Act, 1998’’ (H.R. 2203,

approved October 13, 1997). I have

determined that the cancellation of these

amounts will reduce the Federal budget

deficit, will not impair any essential

Government functions, and will not harm the

national interest. This letter, together with its

attachments, constitutes a special message

under section 1022 of the Congressional

Budget and Impoundment Control Act of

1974, as amended.

Sincerely,

William J. Clinton

The Honorable Newt Gingrich,

Speaker of the House of Representatives,

Washington, D.C. 20515.

Cancellation No. 97–57

CANCELLATION OF DOLLAR

AMOUNT OF DISCRETIONARY

BUDGET AUTHORITY

Report Pursuant to the Line Item Veto

Act, P.L. 104–130

Bill Citation: ‘‘Energy and Water

Development Appropriations Act, 1998’’

(H.R. 2203).

1(A). Dollar Amount of Discretionary

Budget Authority: $3,500 thousand for

Lake George, Hobart, Indiana on pages

3 and 54 of House Report 105–271,

dated September 26, 1997.

1(B). Determinations: This

cancellation will reduce the Federal

budget deficit, will not impair any

essential Government functions, and

will not harm the national interest.

1(C), (E). Reasons for Cancellation;

Facts, Circumstances, and

Considerations Relating to or Bearing

Upon the Cancellation; and Estimated

Effect of Cancellation on Objects,

Purposes, and Programs: The Lake

George, Hobart, Indiana, project, which

would require total Federal funding of

$3.5 million, would have the Army

Corps of Engineers fund dredging and

construction of sediment traps to reduce

further sediment build-up of a

recreation lake owned and operated by

the City of Hobart. This Administration

and previous Administrations have

given low priority to Corps participation

in projects whose primary benefits are

local recreation. Generally, the Corps

will build cost-shared recreation

facilities only if it is a relatively small

part of a Federal project that focuses on

one or more of the Corps’ primary

missions (e.g., flood control,

navigation). Since the primary purpose

of this project is to enhance local

recreation opportunities at a nonFederal lake, it should be undertaken by

local interests.

1(D). Estimated Fiscal, Economic, and

Budgetary Effect of Cancellation: As a

result of the cancellation, Federal

outlays will not increase, as specified

below. This will have a commensurate

effect on the Federal budget deficit and,

to that extent, will have a beneficial

effect on the economy.

Outlay changes

[In thousands of dollars]

Fiscal year:

1998 ..................................... ¥2,100

1999 ..................................... ¥1,400

2000 ..................................... ..................

2001 ..................................... ..................

2002 ..................................... ..................

Total ................................. ¥3,500

1(F). Adjustments to Non-Defense

Discretionary Spending Limits

Budget authority: ¥$3,500 thousand

in FY 1998.

Outlays: The estimated outlay effect

for each year is shown above.

Evaluation of Effects of These

Adjustments upon Sequestration

Procedures: If a sequestration were

required, such sequestration would

occur at levels that are reduced by the

amounts above.

2(A). Agency: Army Corps of

Engineers.

2(A). Bureau: n/a.

2(A). Governmental Function/Project

(Account): Dredging of Lake George,

Hobart, Indiana (Construction, General).

2(B). States and Congressional

Districts Affected: Indiana, 1st

Congressional District.

2(C). Total Number of Cancellations

(inclusive) in Current Session in each

State and District identified above:

Indiana: three; 1st District: one.

Cancellation No. 97–58

CANCELLATION OF DOLLAR

AMOUNT OF DISCRETIONARY

BUDGET AUTHORITY

Report Pursuant to the Line Item Veto

Act, P.L. 104–130

Bill Citation: ‘‘Energy and Water

Development Appropriations Act, 1998’’

(H.R. 2203).

1(A). Dollar Amount of Discretionary

Budget Authority: $800 thousand for

Neabsco Creek, Virginia, on page 56 of

House Report 105–271, dated September

26, 1997.

1(B). Determinations: This

cancellation will reduce the Federal

budget deficit, will not impair any

essential Government functions, and

will not harm the national interest.

1(C), (E). Reasons for Cancellation;

Facts, Circumstances, and

Considerations Relating to or Bearing

Upon the Cancellation; and Estimated

Effect of Cancellation on Objects,

Purposes, and Programs: The Neabsco

Creek Flood Control Project, Prince

William County, Virginia, which would

require total Federal funding of over $1

million, would have the Army Corps of

Engineers remove creek debris and

accumulated sediment from the channel

of Neabsco Creek. The Corps of

Engineers previously conducted studies

under two of its program authorities

(Sections 205 and 208) to determine

whether a project could be developed

that is technically and economically

feasible, environmentally acceptable,

and is consistent with Administration

policies. Both studies concluded that no

economically justified project could be

developed for this area. In fact, the
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 202 / Monday, October 20, 1997 / Notices 54565

studies concluded that the Federal

investment would return less than 50

cents on the dollar (national benefit—

cost ratio of less than 0.5 to 1.0). The

Administration previously informed

Congress that it opposed authorization

of this project during Congressional

consideration of the Water Resources

Development Act of 1996.

1(D). Estimated Fiscal, Economic, and

Budgetary Effect of Cancellation: As a

result of the cancellation, Federal

outlays will not increase, as specified

below. This will have a commensurate

effect on the Federal budget deficit and,

to that extent, will have a beneficial

effect on the economy.

Outlay changes

[In thousands of dollars]

Fiscal year:

1998 ..................................... ¥480

1999 ..................................... ¥320

2000 ..................................... ..................

2001 ..................................... ..................

2002 ..................................... ..................

Total ................................. ¥800

1(F). Adjustments to Non-Defense

Discretionary Spending Limits

Budget authority: ¥$800 thousand in

FY 1998

Outlays: The estimated outlay effect

for each year is shown above.

Evaluation of Effects of These

Adjustments upon Sequestration

Procedures: If a sequestration were

required, such sequestration would

occur at levels that are reduced by the

amounts above.

2(A). Agency: Army Corps of

Engineers.

2(A). Bureau: n/a.

2(A). Governmental Function/Project

(Account): Removal of debris and

sediment from the channel of Neabsco

Creek, Virginia (Construction, General).

2(B). States and Congressional

Districts Affected: Virginia, 11th

Congressional District.

2(C). Total Number of Cancellations

(inclusive) in Current Session in each

State and District identified above:

Virginia: four; 11th District: one.

Cancellation No. 97–59

CANCELLATION OF DOLLAR

AMOUNT OF DISCRETIONARY

BUDGET AUTHORITY

Report Pursuant to the Line Item Veto

Act, P.L. 104–130

Bill Citation: ‘‘Energy and Water

Development Appropriations Act, 1998’’

(H.R. 2203).

1(A). Dollar Amount of Discretionary

Budget Authority: $1,900 thousand for

Sardis Lake (Shady Cove Marina), Yazoo

Basin, Mississippi, on pages 6, 34, and

58 of House Report 105–271, dated

September 26, 1997.

1(B). Determinations: This

cancellation will reduce the Federal

budget deficit, will not impair any

essential Government functions, and

will not harm the national interest.

1(C), (E). Reasons for Cancellation;

Facts, Circumstances, and

Considerations Relating to or Bearing

Upon the Cancellation; and Estimated

Effect of Cancellation on Objects,

Purposes, and Programs: The Sardis

Lake, Mississippi, project, which would

require an estimated total Federal

funding of $4 million ($2.1 million was

appropriated in FY 1997), would have

the Army Corps of Engineers dredge at

full Federal expense a section of Sardis

Lake to create a marina basin for leisure

craft and recreational opportunities.

This Administration and previous

Administrations have given low priority

to Corps participation in projects whose

primary benefits are local recreation.

Generally, the Corps will build costshared recreation facilities only if it is

a relatively small part of a project that

focuses on one or more of the Corps’

primary missions (e.g., flood control,

commercial navigation). Since the

primary purpose of this project is to

enhance local recreation navigation, it

should be undertaken by local interests.

Furthermore, it is premature to begin

construction of this project. The Army

Corps of Engineers has not completed

the normal project planning and review

process applied to all such projects to

determine whether the project is

technically and economically feasible,

environmentally acceptable, and is

consistent with Administration policies.

Completing this process helps ensure

that Federal funds are used only to

construct projects that generate a

positive economic return to the Nation

and meet all environmental

requirements.

Finally, this project has not been

subject to the normal Congressional

hearing and authorization process.

1(D). Estimated Fiscal, Economic, and

Budgetary Effect of Cancellation: As a

result of the cancellation, Federal

outlays will not increase, as specified

below. This will have a commensurate

effect on the Federal budget deficit and,

to that extent, will have a beneficial

effect on the economy.

Outlay changes

[In thousands of dollars]

Fiscal year:

1998 ..................................... ¥1,425

1999 ..................................... ¥475

2000 ..................................... ..................

Outlay changes—Continued

[In thousands of dollars]

2001 ..................................... ..................

2002 ..................................... ..................

Total ................................. ¥1,900

1(F). Adjustments to Non-Defense

Discretionary Spending Limits

Budget authority: ¥$1,900 thousand

in FY 1998.

Outlays: The estimated outlay effect

for each year is shown above.

Evaluation of Effects of These

Adjustments upon Sequestration

Procedures: If a sequestration were

required, such sequestration would

occur at levels that are reduced by the

amounts above.

2(A). Agency: Army Corps of

Engineers.

2(A). Bureau: n/a.

2(A). Governmental Function/Project

(Account): Dredging of section of Sardis

Lake, Mississippi (Flood Control,

Mississippi River and Tributaries,

Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana,

Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee).

2(B). States and Congressional

Districts Affected: Mississippi, 1st and

4th Congressional Districts.

2(C). Total Number of Cancellations

(inclusive) in Current Session in each

State and District identified above:

Mississippi: one; 1st District: one; 4th

District: one.

Cancellation No. 97–60

CANCELLATION OF DOLLAR

AMOUNT OF DISCRETIONARY

BUDGET AUTHORITY

Report Pursuant to the Line Item Veto

Act, P.L. 104–130

Bill Citation: ‘‘Energy and Water

Development Appropriations Act, 1998’’

(H.R. 2203).

1(A). Dollar Amount of Discretionary

Budget Authority: $800 thousand for

Chena River Dredging, Fairbanks,

Alaska on page 7, 35, and 58 of House

Report 105–271, dated September 26,

1997.

1(B). Determinations: This

cancellation will reduce the Federal

budget deficit, will not impair any

essential Government functions, and

will not harm the national interest.

1(C), (E). Reasons for Cancellation;

Facts, Circumstances, and

Considerations Relating to or Bearing

Upon the Cancellation; and Estimated

Effect of Cancellation on Objects,

Purposes, and Programs: The Chena

River Dredging, Fairbanks, Alaska,

project, which would require total

Federal funding of $800 thousand,

would have the Army Corps of

Engineers dredge at full Federal expense
54566 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 202 / Monday, October 20, 1997 / Notices

a recreation channel for use by a single

tour boat operator. There is no

authorized Army Corps of Engineers

navigation project in the area. This

Administration and previous

Administrations have given low priority

to Corps participation in projects whose

primary benefits are local recreation.

Generally, the Corps will participate in

a recreation features only if it is a

relatively small part of a project that

focuses on one or more of the Corps’

primary missions (e.g., flood control,

commercial navigation). Since the

primary purpose of this project is to

enhance local recreation navigation, it

should be undertaken by local interests.

In addition, it is premature to begin

construction of this project. This project

has not completed the normal Corps of

Engineers project planning and review

process applied to all Corps projects to

determine whether the project is

technically and economically feasible,

environmentally acceptable, and is

consistent with Administration policies.

Completing this process helps ensure

that Federal funds are used only to

construct projects that generate a

positive economic return to the Nation

and meet all environmental

requirements.

1(D). Estimated Fiscal, Economic, and

Budgetary Effect of Cancellation: As a

result of the cancellation, Federal

outlays will not increase, as specified

below. This will have a commensurate

effect on the Federal budget deficit and,

to that extent, will have a beneficial

effect on the economy.

Outlay changes

[In thousands of dollars]

Fiscal year:

1998 ..................................... ¥480

1999 ..................................... ¥320

2000 ..................................... ..................

2001 ..................................... ..................

2002 ..................................... ..................

Total ................................. ¥800

1(F). Adjustments to Non-Defense

Discretionary Spending Limits

Budget authority: ¥$800 thousand in

FY 1998

Outlays: The estimated outlay effect

for each year is shown above.

Evaluation of Effects of These

Adjustments upon Sequestration

Procedures: If a sequestration were

required, such sequestration would

occur at levels that are reduced by the

amounts above.

2(A). Agency: Army Corps of

Engineers.

2(A). Bureau: n/a.

2(A). Governmental Function/Project

(Account): Dredging of channel on

Chena River, Fairbanks, Alaska

(Operation and Maintenance, General).

2(B). States and Congressional

Districts Affected: Alaska,

Representative At Large.

2(C). Total Number of Cancellations

(inclusive) in Current Session in each

State and District identified above:

Alaska: one.

Cancellation No. 97–61

CANCELLATION OF DOLLAR

AMOUNT OF DISCRETIONARY

BUDGET AUTHORITY

Report Pursuant to the Line Item Veto

Act, P.L. 104–130

Bill Citation: ‘‘Energy and Water

Development Appropriations Act, 1998’’

(H.R. 2203).

1(A). Dollar Amount of Discretionary

Budget Authority: $6,000 thousand for

Allegheny River (Kittanning Riverfront

Park), Pennsylvania, on pages 7, 35, and

65 of House Report 105–271, dated

September 26, 1997.

1(B). Determinations: This

cancellation will reduce the Federal

budget deficit, will not impair any

essential Government functions, and

will not harm the national interest.

1(C), (E). Reasons for Cancellation;

Facts, Circumstances, and

Considerations Relating to or Bearing

Upon the Cancellation; and Estimated

Effect of Cancellation on Objects,

Purposes, and Programs: The Allegheny

River (Kittanning River Front Park),

Pennsylvania, project, which would

require total Federal funding of $6

million, would have the Army Corps of

Engineers dredge at full Federal expense

a new recreation channel to allow

passenger boat operators access to

Kittanning Riverfront Park. There is no

Federal channel there now. This

Administration and previous

Administrations have given low priority

to Corps participation in projects whose

primary benefits are local recreation.

Generally, the Corps will build costshared recreation facilities only if it is

a relatively small part of a Federal

project that focuses on one or more of

the Corps’ primary missions (e.g., flood

control, commercial navigation). Since

the primary purpose of this project is to

enhance local recreation navigation

separable from the existing Federal

channel, it should be undertaken by

local interests. Further, it is premature

to fund construction of this project. This

project has not completed the normal

Corps of Engineers project planning and

review process applied to all Corps

projects to determine whether the

project is technically and economically

feasible, environmentally acceptable,

and is consistent with Administration

policies. Completing this process helps

ensure that Federal funds are used only

to construct projects that generate a

positive economic return to the Nation

and meet all environmental

requirements.

1(D). Estimated Fiscal, Economic, and

Budgetary Effect of Cancellation: As a

result of the cancellation, Federal

outlays will not increase, as specified

below. This will have a commensurate

effect on the Federal budget deficit and,

to that extent, will have a beneficial

effect on the economy.

Outlay changes

[In thousands of dollars]

Fiscal year:

1998 ..................................... ¥3,600

1999 ..................................... ¥2,400

2000 ..................................... ..................

2001 ..................................... ..................

2002 ..................................... ..................

Total ................................. ¥6,000

1(F). Adjustments to Non-Defense

Discretionary Spending Limits

Budget authority: ¥$6,000 thousand

in FY 1998.

Outlays: The estimated outlay effect

for each year is shown above.

Evaluation of Effects of These

Adjustments upon Sequestration

Procedures: If a sequestration were

required, such sequestration would

occur at levels that are reduced by the

amounts above.

2(A). Agency: Army Corps of

Engineers.

2(A). Bureau: n/a.

2(A). Governmental Function/Project

(Account): Dredging of channel on

Allegheny River, Pennsylvania

(Operation and Maintenance, General).

2(B). States and Congressional

Districts Affected: Pennsylvania, 12th

Congressional District.

2(C). Total Number of Cancellations

(inclusive) in Current Session in each

State and District identified above:

Pennsylvania: four; 12th District: three.

Cancellation No. 97–62

CANCELLATION OF DOLLAR

AMOUNT OF DISCRETIONARY

BUDGET AUTHORITY

Report Pursuant to the Line Item Veto

Act, P.L. 104–130

Bill Citation: ‘‘Energy and Water

Development Appropriations Act, 1998’’

(H.R. 2203).

1(A). Dollar Amount of Discretionary

Budget Authority: $ 1,000 thousand and

$300 thousand, In-situ Copper Mining

Research Project, on page 69 of House

Report 105–271, dated September 26,

1997.
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 202 / Monday, October 20, 1997 / Notices 54567

1(B). Determinations: This

cancellation will reduce the Federal

budget deficit, will not impair any

essential Government functions, and

will not harm the national interest.

1(C), (E). Reasons for Cancellation:

Facts, Circumstances, and

Considerations Relating to or Bearing

Upon the Cancellation; and Estimated

Effect of Cancellation on Objects,

Purposes, and Programs: The purpose

of this project has been to demonstrate

the technical, economic, and

environmental feasibility of in-place

recovery of low-grade, copper oxide

material. The total cost to date of this

demonstration project, which was

initially funded in FY 1988 as a Bureau

of Mines research project, is $31.7

million. Federal funding to date totals

$26.5 million, including $16.8 million

for contract work with the private

partners and $9.7 million for in-house

Federal research.

Federal funding of this demonstration

effort is no longer justified. The

demonstration facility began operations

in February 1996 and test data have

been furnished to the Bureau of

Reclamation since that time and will

continue to be furnished from tests

conducted prior to close-out. The FY

1996 appropriation for the Bureau of

Mines included funds to close out the

In-situ Copper Mining demonstration

project. The Bureau of Reclamation

assumed oversight responsibility for

close out of this project in February

1996. Additional funding beyond FY

1996 was not needed to complete this

orderly close out and was not requested

in either the President’s FY 1997 or FY

1998 Budgets, although Congress added

funds in both years. The private costsharing partners will keep the $5

million demonstration facility after

close-out and can continue the

demonstration effort if they believe it is

warranted.

1(D). Estimated Fiscal, Economic, and

Budgetary Effect of Cancellation: As a

result of the cancellation, Federal

outlays will not increase, as specified

below. This will have a commensurate

effect on the Federal budget deficit and,

to that extent, will have a beneficial

effect on the economy.

Outlay changes

[In thousands of dollars]

Fiscal year:

1998 ..................................... ¥1,053

1999 ..................................... ¥247

2000 ..................................... ..................

2001 ..................................... ..................

2002 ..................................... ..................

Total ................................. ¥1,300

1(F). Adjustments to Non-Defense

Discretionary Spending Limits

Budget authority: -$1,300 thousand in

FY 1998.

Outlays: The estimated outlay effect

for each year is shown above.

Evaluation of Effects of These

Adjustments upon Sequestration

Procedures: If a sequestration were

required, such sequestration would

occur at levels that are reduced by the

amounts above.

2(A). Agency: Department of the

Interior.

2(A). Bureau: Bureau of Reclamation.

2(A). Governmental Function/Project

(Account): In-situ Copper Mining

Research Project, Applied Science and

Technology Development Program

(Water and Related Resources).

2(B). States and Congressional

Districts Affected: Arizona, 5th and 6th

Congressional Districts.

2(C). Total Number of Cancellations

(inclusive) in Current Session in each

State and District identified above:

Arizonia: one; 5th District: one; 6th

District: one.

Cancellation No. 97–63

CANCELLATION OF DOLLAR

AMOUNT OF DISCRETIONARY

BUDGET AUTHORITY

Report Pursuant to the Line Item Veto

Act, P.L. 104–130

Bill Citation: Energy and Water

Development Appropriations Act, 1998

(H.R. 2203)

1(A). Dollar Amount of Discretionary

Budget Authority: $1,000 thousand for a

research and development partnership

to manufacture electric transmission

lines using aluminum matrix composite

materials on page 82 of House Report

105–271, dated September 26, 1997.

1(B). Determinations: This

cancellation will reduce the Federal

budget deficit, will not impair any

essential Government functions, and

will not harm the national interest.

1(C), (E). Reasons for Cancellation;

Facts, Circumstances, and

Considerations Relating to or Bearing

Upon the Cancellation; and Estimated

Effect of Cancellation on Objects,

Purposes, and Programs: The

provisions would start a program to

fund cost-shared development of highvoltage power cables that use aluminum

matrix composites (ceramic fibers glued

together with aluminum) for the support

member rather than steel as is the

current practice. This would provide

first-year funding for a program that has

been proposed by a private consortium

of manufacturing companies and

utilities. Materials previously provided

to the Department of Energy by the

consortium indicated that this would be

a 4-year program with a total estimated

Federal cost of $15 million, so most of

the program costs would be incurred in

FY 1999–2001.

There is substantial private-sector

incentive to engage in this development,

and a Federal subsidy is unnecessary.

The Department of Energy eliminated

their electric transmission-line R&D

program several years ago, so

cancellation of these funds would have

no effect on on-going programs at the

Department of Energy.

1(D): Estimated Fiscal, Economic, and

Budgetary Effect of Cancellation: As a

result of this cancellation, Federal

outlays will not increase, as specified

below. Future outlays of $14 million

may also potentially be avoided. This

will have a commensurate effect on the

Federal budget deficit and, to that

extent, will have a beneficial effect on

the economy.

Outlay changes

[In thousands of dollars]

Fiscal year:

1998 ..................................... ¥450

1999 ..................................... ¥400

2000 ..................................... ..................

2001 ..................................... ..................

2002 ..................................... ..................

Total ................................. ¥1,000

2(A). Agency: Department of Energy.

Bureau: Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy.

Governmental Function/Project

(Account): Energy/Solar and Renewable

Energy/Electric Energy Systems (Energy

Supply).

2(B). States and Congressional

Districts Affected: Minnesota, 5th

Congressional District.

2(C). Total Number of Cancellations

(Inclusive) in Current Session in each

State and District Indicated Above:

Minnesota: one; 5th District: one.

Cancellation No. 97–64

CANCELLATION OF DOLLAR

AMOUNT OF DISCRETIONARY

BUDGET AUTHORITY

Report Pursuant to the Line Item Veto

Act, P.L. 104–130

Bill Citation: ‘‘Energy and Water

Development Appropriations Act, 1998’’

(H.R. 2203).

1(A). Dollar Amount of Discretionary

Budget Authority (thousands): $4,000

thousand for the Nuclear Regulatory

Commission to license a multi-purpose

canister design on page 13 of House

Report 105–271, dated September 26,

1997.

1(B). Determinations: This

cancellation will reduce the Federal
54568 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 202 / Monday, October 20, 1997 / Notices

budget deficit, will not impair any

essential Government functions, and

will not harm the national interest.

1(C), (E). Reasons for Cancellation;

Facts, Circumstances, and

Considerations Relating to or Bearing

Upon the Cancellation; and Estimated

Effect of Cancellation on Objects,

Purposes, and Programs: The provision

would require the Department of Energy

(DOE) to provide the Nuclear Regulatory

Commission (NRC) $4 million to license

a multi-purpose canister (MPC) design.

Multi-purpose canisters are expected to

be used for temporary storage,

transportation, and permanent disposal

of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) from

commercial nuclear power plants and

high level waste from the DOE nuclear

weapons complex.

The provision is objectionable for two

reasons. First, it constitutes an

unwarranted corporate subsidy and

would undermine current legal

requirements that the NRC recover

virtually 100 percent of its costs of

operation through charging fees to

licensees. The NRC currently awards

Certificates of Compliance (‘‘licenses’’

or ‘‘COCs’’) to canister designers on a

cost-reimbursable basis, as required by

law. Five of the six known spent fuel

storage and transportation cask vendors

in the United States have already

submitted applications for certification

for dual-purpose (as opposed to multipurpose) canisters to the NRC and, in

the absence of this provision, can expect

to pay between $400,000 and $600,000

to NRC to complete the 2–3 year

certification process for each

application. (Dual purpose canisters can

be used for temporary storage and

transportation but not permanent

disposal of spent nuclear fuel.)

Second, it will be impossible for the

NRC to certify or license an MPC until

the Federal government selects a

permanent disposal site and the NRC

agrees to the waste acceptance criteria

for the disposal canisters to be placed at

that site. Under current DOE plans, the

Federal government will not decide on

a permanent nuclear waste disposal site

until at least 2001.

1(D). Estimated Fiscal, Economic, and

Budgetary Effect of Cancellation: As a

result of the cancellation, Federal

outlays will not increase, as specified

below. This will have a commensurate

effect on the Federal budget deficit and,

to that extent, will have a beneficial

effect on the economy.

Outlay changes

[In thousands of dollars]

Fiscal year:

1998 ..................................... ..................

1999 ..................................... ..................

2000 ..................................... ..................

2001 ..................................... ¥2,000

2002 ..................................... ¥2,000

Outlay changes—Continued

[In thousands of dollars]

Total ................................. ¥4,000

1(F). Adjustments to Non-Defense

Discretionary Spending Limits

Budget authority: ¥$4,000 thousand

in FY 1998.

Outlays: The estimated outlay effect

for each year is shown above.

Evaluation of Effects of These

Adjustments upon Sequestration

Procedures: If a sequestration were

required, such sequestration would

occur at levels that are reduced by the

amounts above.

2(A). Agency: Department of Energy

and Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

2(A). Bureau: Department of Energy/

Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste

Management.

2(A). Governmental Function/Project

(Account): Nuclear Regulatory

Commission multipurpose canister

licensing (Nuclear Waste Disposal

Fund).

2(B). States and Congressional

Districts Affected: All.

2(C). Total Number of Cancellations

(inclusive) in Current Session in each

State and District identified above: The

provision would have had a national

effect.

[FR Doc. 97–28061 Filed 10–17–97; 4:36 pm]

BILLING CODE 3110–01–P