The fiscal 2009 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill contains more than $300 million for nuclear and river projects in the Paducah region.

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell said he used his seniority on the Senate Appropriations Committee to direct funding for the projects. The committee is expected to approve the bill today. It will then go to the full Senate.

Funding measures:

$115.6 million to continue cleanup at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant.

$50 million for a facility to convert spent uranium at the plant into safer material and extract useful fluorine.

$1.05 million for medical monitoring of nuclear workers at the Paducah plant and closed sister plants in Piketon, Ohio, and Oak Ridge, Tenn.

$114 million for continued construction of Olmsted Locks and Dam at Olmsted, Ill.

$22.3 million for the Kentucky Lock and Dam project.

$60,000 to maintain stabilization of Magnolia Bluff above Bayou de Chien at Hickman.

The legislation also includes a provision to fix a loophole in a trade agreement allowing unlimited imports of Russian uranium into the U.S. and threatening the Paducah plant and its workers.

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