(BOISE, Idaho) -- Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter called on the U.S. Department of Energy on Thursday to finance the court-required cleanup work at the Idaho National Laboratory, even though the federal government faces budget problems.

“Recognizing that there will be some fiscal impact to the INL as a result of the sequestration or other holdbacks, I strongly urge the DOE to continue meeting the cleanup milestones pursuant to Idaho’s 1995 Settlement Agreement,” Governor Otter wrote in a letter to Deputy Energy Secretary Daniel Poneman. “Of particular importance to the state is the continued and sustained progress on the exhumation of buried waste. I cannot adequately underscore the importance of meeting these particular goals.”

Otter added, “I strongly believe that in times of sustained reductions in discretionary spending, the federal government can and should consolidate its nuclear work in Idaho. To this end, the state would welcome an ongoing and continued dialogue with DOE to ensure these assets are put to their highest and best use.”

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio