671 



balancing the priorities of on-going 

 activities in the Civilian R&D program and the 

 start of new activities for the Subseabed 

 Disposal Program, the Department is 

 recommending a lower level of effort for some 

 subseabed activities than would have occurred 

 at the $9.6 million level. At the $7.5 

 million funding level, the timetable for 

 determining feasibility of the subseabed 

 disposal concept meets DOE ' s overall research 

 and development priorities and schedules for 

 implementing the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 

 1982. A funding level above $7.5 million 

 would unnecessarily accelerate activities 

 aimed at assessing the feasibility of the 

 subseabed concept. The $7.5 million funding 

 level for FY 1984 provides a more gradual 

 increase in the Subseabed budget from $6.0 million 

 in FY 1983 to a planning range of $10 million 

 to $12 million a year in the future. Effective 

 planning for the expanded FY 19 85 budget can be done 

 during FY 1984. Thus, some R&D items will not be 

 started in FY 1984, but will be started in 

 FY 1985. 



