Supporters of the Dept. of Energy's mixed-oxide-fuel (MOX) fabrication facility under construction in South Carolina are trying to save the $4.8-billion project from being tabled by mandatory spending cuts under the coming sequestration or reductions in the upcoming White House fiscal 2014 budget.

The project, being built by Areva Shaw MOX Services, is expected to be $1 billion to $2 billion over its budget, and DOE has no takers for its end product: fuel for commercial nuclear reactors.

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) has drafted a letter to the White House asking the administration to consider the national-security consequences of shutting the half-built project.