Deferral of Energy Research and Development Administration Budget Authority

Gao ID: OGC-77-23 July 28, 1977

A deferral of Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) budget authority for funds appropriated for the Intense Neutron Source Facility (INSF) project should have been, but was not, reported to the Congress by the President pursuant to the Impoundment Control Act of 1974. The INSF project is a Federal effort to study the effects of high-level neutron irradiation on metals and insulators.

In 1975, $22.1 million was authorized to be appropriated for the INSF project. Total project costs were estimated by ERDA to be $25.4 million. Funds were first appropriated for the INSF project in fiscal year 1977 when ERDA was provided $14.4 million. These funds will remain available until expended. Presidential budget cuts deleted an additional $10.9 million requested by ERDA in its initial fiscal year 1978 budget. ERDA advised that this deletion, if approved by the Congress, would have required termination of the project. Prior to congressional reinstatement of this amount, ERDA placed $13.4 million of unobligated project funds in an ERDA reserve account. This action was documented only in ERDA internal financial plans, and the Office of Management and Budget was not notified of this budgetary action. Although the ERDA Office of the Comptroller has requested the release of the project's funds from the ERDA reserve account, the $13.4 million remains in an impounded status due to ERDA actions placing the funds in reserve.



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