The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has approvedthe nomination of Bill Richardson, currently U.S. ambassador to theUnited Nations, to become the next secretary to the Department ofEnergy (DOE).

The majority of the committee members endorsed the nomination,with the exception of Sens. Larry Craig (R-ID) and Rod Grams(R-MN). Both voted “present” to express their discontent with theWhite House’s failure so far to give the DOE secretary the go-aheadto negotiate with Congress on the controversial issue ofnuclear-waste storage.

The White House earlier this week sent Richardson a letter thatmay provide him with the necessary authority to resolve thelingering issue. “We know it addresses the nuclear-waste issue, butthat’s the extent of it,” said committee spokesman Derek Jumper.

Without such authority from the White House, Craig hasthreatened to place a hold on the Richardson nomination when itreaches the Senate floor. Rep. Frank Murkowski, chairman of theSenate Energy Committee, and Grams support Craig on the issue.

The Senate probably will take up the nomination when it returnsfrom its recess in September. Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS)has vowed to delay all action on nominations until after the Senatevotes on scheduled appropriations bills.

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