WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Legacy Management (LM) released its fiscal year (FY) 2019 budget request of $159 million on February 12. This budget request represents a $4.5 million increase in funding from FY 2017.
LM’s FY 2019 request represents the resources necessary for LM to continue its mission of fulfilling DOE’s post-closure responsibilities and ensuring the future protection of human health and the environment.
“Legacy Management will continue to keep the promises made to our Cold War communities and former workers, optimizing every dollar entrusted to us to meet our mission,” stated LM Director Carmelo Melendez.
Mission-related activities funded under this request include:
- Performing long-term surveillance and maintenance at 100 sites
- Providing funding for payment of post-retirement benefits to more than 10,000 former DOE contractor employees
- Supporting termination of pension plans for remaining closure sites
- Managing records and information
- Strengthening cybersecurity efforts
- Pursuing beneficial reuse of properties
- Managing infrastructure and facilities at LM sites
- Providing leadership responsibility for DOE’s Environmental Justice Program
- Engaging the public and performing outreach
- Supporting an interagency agreement to address abandoned uranium mines
The amount of funding requested is sufficient for LM to address its anticipated increase in sites and expansion of responsibilities.
More information on LM’s FY 2019 budget request is available here.