Nuclear Waste Disposal Fund

Nuclear Waste Disposal Fund For nuclear waste disposal activities to carry out the purposes of Public Law 97–425, as amended, including the acquisition of real property or facility construction or expansion, $275,071,000, to remain available until expended, to be derived from the Nuclear Waste Fund. To the extent that balances in the fund are not sufficient to cover amounts available for obligation in the account, the Secretary shall exercise his authority pursuant to section 302(e)(5) of said Act to issue obligations to the Secretary of the Treasury: Provided, That of the amount herein appropriated, within available funds, not to exceed $5,000,000 may be provided to the State of Nevada, for the conduct of its oversight responsibilities pursuant to the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, Public Law 97–425, as amended: Provided further, That of the amount herein appropriated, not more than $4,000,000 may be provided to affected local governments, as defined in the Act, to conduct appropriate activities pursuant to the Act: Provided further, That the distribution of the funds herein provided among the affected units of local government shall be determined by the Department of Energy (DOE) and made available to the State and affected units of local government by direct payment: Provided further, That within 90 days of the completion of each Federal fiscal year, each entity shall provide certification to the DOE, that all funds expended from such direct payment moneys have been expended for activities as defined in Public Law 97–425, as amended. Failure to provide such certification shall cause such entity to be prohibited from any further funding provided for similar activities: Provided further, That none of the funds herein appropriated may be used directly or indirectly to influence legislative action on any matter pending before Con-105 STAT. 528gress or a State legislature or for any lobbying activity as provided in 18 U.S.C. 1913: Provided further, That none of the funds herein appropriated may be used for litigation expenses: Provided further, That of the amount appropriated herein, up to $3,500,000 shall be available for infrastructure studies and other research and development work to be carried out by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and the University of Nevada, Reno. Funding to the universities will be administered by the DOE through a cooperative agreement. In paying the amounts determined to be appropriate as a result of the decision in Consolidated Edison Company of New York v. Department of Energy 870 F.2d 694 (D.C. Cir. 1989), the Department of Energy shall pay interest at a rate to be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury and calculated from the date the amounts were deposited into the Nuclear Waste Fund. Such payments may be made by credits to future utility payments into the fund.