DOE science nominee faces few questions

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- The Senate Energy Committee gave a warm welcome Tuesday to Raymond Orbach, the Bush administration's nominee to head the Department of Energy's Office of Science.

Orbach, a physics professor and chancellor of the University of California at Riverside, would become the primary science adviser to Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham. The office funds and oversees one of the government's broadest portfolios of basic research projects; the Human Genome Program started there.

"The scientific community today is charged with responsibilities as serious as any in our nation's history," Orbach told the committee. "It is imperative that both our educational and research programs be at the highest level."

Orbach's nomination is practically noncontroversial, said Sen. Diane Feinstein; she and Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., the committee chairman, were the only members present for the hearing. Bingaman supports the nomination, and said Sen. Frank Murkowksi, R-Alaska, the committee's ranking member, was submitting similar comments in writing.

DOE's vast research efforts, which form the basis for important programs such as environmental cleanup, compete for limited funds, Feinstein said, and asked Orbach how he would set priorities for particular projects.

"Recognizing the limitations in the budget the department faces, I'll work with the scientific community and Congress to establish priorities and them champion them within the department," Orbach said. With so many areas of study offering great promise, Orbach said, he'll try to achieve the most equitable balance of funding possible.

Feinstein asked how Orbach might deal with the struggle between proper security and academic curiosity at the nation's nuclear weapons labs. The labs must continue exchanging scientific information amongst themselves and outside researchers to keep the programs going, Orbach said, but detailed management of the process must continue to preserve security.

DOE faces several challenges in the area of nuclear power, including the controversial proposal to store nuclear waste at Nevada's Yucca Mountain and cleanup efforts at Washington state's Hanford nuclear reservation. Orbach told United Press International that, if approved, he expects the office will continue providing assistance in these and other areas of DOE activity.

Committee staff told UPI they expect the nomination to reach the Senate floor this week.