The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hasscheduled a hearing for July 22 to take up the nomination of BillRichardson, current U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, to behead of the Department of Energy.

The hearing is expected to be heated with Sens. Larry Craig(R-ID) and Rod Grams (R-MN) likely to oppose the nomination. BothSenators have gripes about nuclear waste storage by the department.They are unlikely to hold up the nomination at the committee levelbecause Chairman Frank Murkowski (R-AK) has indicated he favorsRichardson. Craig and Grams, however, may block a vote onRichardson’s nomination on the Senate floor. The Senate recesses onJuly 31st for the summer.

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