WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Bill Frist and Lamar Alexander today announced that the Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 Energy and Water Appropriations Conference Report includes significant funding for Tennessee energy and water priorities, including support for Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant. congressman Zach Wamp was one of the House Appropriators that worked with the Senate to finalize the Energy and Water bill. The conference report will be voted on by the House and Senate in the next week.

“This legislation supports the state-of-the-art research underway at Oak Ridge,” said Frist. “Oak Ridge is an investment in Tennessee and our nation. I’m pleased the conferees have supported so many projects to further advance energy research while providing for necessary infrastructure development in the Volunteer State.”

“This bill funds critical infrastructure projects and invests in the cutting-edge science happening at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory,” said Alexander. “I am proud that Congress worked together in approving these important priorities for Tennessee.”

"Replacing the Chickamauga Lock has been my number one legislative priority for eight years and it is exciting to see it become a reality. The Tennessee River is the lifeline of the Tennessee Valley and a new lock in Chattanooga is crucial to the region in terms of future commerce and recreation. It is very satisfying to have this important project underway," said Rep. Wamp, who has served on the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee for the last three years.

Some of the key Tennessee projects in the FY 2004 Energy and Water Appropriations Conference Report include:

Water Projects
*$1.25 million for the Cumberland County Water Supply project to expand water supplies throughout its region which includes six-county utility districts and Crossville.
*$3.1 million for the Nonconnah Creek project in Memphis to continue addressing flood control, environmental preservation and recreation in the region. Upon completion, the project will provide flood protection to approximately half of Memphis.
*$1 million for the Wolf River Ecosystem Restoration Project in Memphis to address erosion damage and a headcut along the Wolf River.
*$300,000 for the Memphis Riverfront Development project to continue expansion and economic development of the Memphis riverfront area.
*$100,000 for a flood control study of Jones Creek in Jackson. The study will evaluate measures to prevent flooding along the Jones Creek which often floods during storm events and cuts off access to several homes.
*$100,000 for a flood control study of Cane Creek in Jackson. Study is necessary to examine flood along Cane Creek, which has become an increasing problem for homes in the southern portion of the city.
*$1.07 million for the Black Fox, Murfree and Oakland Springs project in Murfreesboro to complete ecosystem restoration and the creation of additional wetlands and in-stream structures.
*7.88 million for the engineering, designing and construction of the new Chickamauga Lock and for continued operation and maintenance of the existing lock. Continued maintenance on the current lock is needed to make sure that it stays operable until the new lock is completed.

Energy Projects
*$143 million for the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) for continued construction, the same amount as the President’s request. Upon completion, SNS will be the most powerful research facility of its kind providing researchers an opportunity to study basic and applied research as well as develop technology in the fields of condensed matter physics, materials sciences, magnetic materials, polymers, chemistry, biology, earth sciences and engineering.
*$20 million for the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences to begin construction of a new nanoscience research facility at ORNL.
*$203 million for the Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) program. The program is critical to the Department of Energy’s goals for advanced scientific computing and this funding will allow ORNL to compete for a major new DOE initiative. The funding is $30 million over the President’s budget request.
*$64 million for the Genomes to Life program, a $5 million increase over the President’s budget request. The funding will be used to expand efforts in microbial research. ORNL participates in this program and will receive a portion of this funding.
*$264 million for Fusion Energy Sciences to continue research into this important energy source and to join a new international effort to build the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). ORNL will be one of the primary beneficiaries of this funding.
*$54.6 million for modernization of the Science Laboratory Infrastructure across the DOE complex. Subject to available funding, ORNL will receive $5 million.
*$4 million to upgrade facilities housing radiological operations and storage at ORNL. This funding is above the President’s budget request.
*$15 million over the President's budget request for the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant. Provides the necessary funding to continue the accelerated environmental clean-up agreement in Oak Ridge.

Once approved by both the House and Senate, the conference report will go to the President for his signature.