By Mark Scott
Washington, DC – The federal government announced Friday the West Valley Demonstration Project will be fully funded at $90 million dollars in 2003.
There was some concern funding would be cut in half because of a dispute between the federal and state governments over a decontamination plan for the site. While an agreement has not been reached yet, the House Subcommittee on Energy and Water Appropriations was convinced by members of the Western New York congressional delegation that both sides were doing their best to resolve their differences.
Subcommittee Chair Sonny Callahan, R-Alabama, said Rep. Amory Houghton, R-Corning, was the "key motivator" in the effort to fully fund the West Valley clean up.
"It is out of deference to him and his vigilant efforts that I included funds in the bill," Callahan said.
"This is terrific news for Western New York," Houghton said. "Still, it's critical that Albany and Washington continue their negotiations and come up with a workable site decontamination plan."
West Valley once hosted the nation's only nuclear fuel reprocessing plant.