Story Published:
Feb 23, 2009 at 11:07 PM MDT
Story Updated:
Feb 23, 2009 at 11:07 PM MDT
IDAHO FALLS - This year's fiscal budget proposal could allow $470-million dollars to go toward funding the clean-up project at the INL.
"It's greater than the President requested initially and it's going to allow us to keep the clean up work going," says Joseph Campbell with the Idaho Clean-Up Project.
The DOE is still operating under the budget from fiscal year 2008. The budget was supposed to be passed in October, but they are still waiting and hopeful for the proposed increase.
"It's going to allow us to get everything we were contracted to do finished and bring on the employees we need to get that work done," says Campbell.
In addition to the budget, the stimulus package would be a big bonus.
"It's looking like not only will we not be laying folks off, we're going to be hiring to get all this work done," he adds.
Idaho senators and congressmen have been pushing for a higher budget to allow for energy efficiency programs as well as national security.
"We take it as a vote of confidence from congress that they know when they send the taxpayers dollars to Idaho, they're going to get their money's worth. We get the work done and we get it done safely," he adds.
The DOE feels the fiscal 2009 budget proposal is enough to get them through the year on top.
This bill will be voted on Wednesday.
