Congress has moved to extend a continuing resolution until Dec. 14 that allows Hanford to operate in the absence of a Department of Energy appropriation for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1.

In the meantime, Hanford will continue operations at fiscal year 2007 funding levels. The extension of the continuing resolution has been tacked onto the defense appropriations bill approved by Congress and sent to the president. The original continuing resolution that included the Hanford budget would have expired Friday.

The House approved a Department of Energy budget for fiscal year 2008, but the Senate version only has been passed out of the Appropriations Committee and has not been considered by the full Senate.

Under the 2007 budget, construction at Hanford's vitrification plant would continue at a funding level of $690 million. However the 2008 budget approved by the House would drop that to $590 million. The Senate version would restore funding to $690 million.