Political Quotes

“Chairman Domenici knows I have been concerned about DOE's high-level waste cleanup program from its inception. Shortly after our committee concluded action on the bill, the GAO issued a report, entitled, ``Challenges to Achieving Potential Savings in DOE's High-Level Waste Cleanup Program.'' In light of the language in our committee report on the program, the GAO provides a valuable and timely perspective on the nuclear waste clean-up program and confirms many of my concerns, as well as those expressed by our committee during our hearings. Mr. President, as stated in our committee's report: The Committee notes with concern the recent notification by the Department that the Hanford Waste Treatment Plant, Richland, Washington, construction project baseline would increase from $4,350,000,000 to $5,781,000,000, an increase of over $1,400,000,000. The relative lack of outrage over a baseline change of that magnitude speaks volumes about what the Congress and public have come to expect from the Department's clean-up program. The tank waste treatment project has a long and sordid history that indicates both the magnitude of the task before the Department, as well as the Department's historic combination of overly optimistic cost estimates coupled with consistent project mismanagement.”