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F I S C A L   I M P A C T   R E P O R T

 

 

 

SPONSOR:

Gonzales

 

DATE TYPED:

02/19/03

 

HB

694

 

SHORT TITLE:

Environmental Sample Testing & Processing

 

SB

 

 

 

ANALYST:

Valenzuela

 

APPROPRIATION

 

Appropriation Contained

Estimated Additional Impact

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY03

FY04

FY03

FY04

 

 

 

$300.0

 

 

Recurring

General Fund

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

 

Relates to Appropriation in the General Appropriation Act for the Department of Environment, Resource Conservation and Recovery Program, DOE Oversight Bureau.

 

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

 

Responses Received From

Department of Environment (NMED)

 

SUMMARY

 

     Synopsis of Bill

 

House Bill 694 appropriates $300.0 from the general fund to U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Oversight Bureau of the Department of Environment for the purpose of conducting sample testing of the environment and to expand oversight activities for DOE facilities within New Mexico.

 

     Significant Issues

 

The DOE Oversight Bureau historically has never received general fund for its operations. In fact, the bureau is funded by a federal grant directly from DOE, per an agreement-in-principle between the state and DOE. The agreement provides for state oversight of environmental impacts at four DOE facilities within New Mexico: Sandia National Laboratories and the Inhalation Toxicology Research Institute in Albuquerque, Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.

 

The bureau has a budget of approximately $1.7 million, funding entirely by federal funds, which has stayed relatively constant of the past few years. The concern of the bureau is that uncertainty at the national level could significantly reduce federal appropriations to the DOE, which in turn would decrease funding for the bureau.

 

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The appropriation of $300.0 contained in this bill is a Recurring expense to the general fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2004 shall revert to the general fund.

 

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