Part G—Science
§16311. Science
(a) In general
The Secretary shall conduct, through the Office of Science, programs of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application in high energy physics, nuclear physics, biological and environmental research, basic energy sciences, advanced scientific computing research, and fusion energy sciences, including activities described in this part. The programs shall include support for facilities and infrastructure, education, outreach, information, analysis, and coordination activities.
(b) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities of the Office of Science, including activities authorized under this part (including the amounts authorized under the amendment made by section 976(b) 1 and including basic energy sciences, advanced scientific and computing research, biological and environmental research, fusion energy sciences, high energy physics, nuclear physics, research analysis, and infrastructure support)—
(1) $4,153,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(2) $4,586,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(3) $5,200,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(4) $5,814,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
(5) $5,247,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
(6) $5,614,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; and
(7) $6,007,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.
(c) Allocations
From amounts authorized under subsection (b), the following sums are authorized:
(1) For activities under the Fusion Energy Sciences program (including activities under
(A) $355,500,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(B) $369,500,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(C) $384,800,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
(D) in addition to the amounts authorized under subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), such sums as may be necessary for ITER construction, consistent with the limitations of
(2) For activities under the catalysis research program under
(A) $36,500,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(B) $38,200,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
(C) such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009.
(3) For activities under the Systems Biology Program under
(4) For activities under the Energy and Water Supplies program under
(5) For the energy research fellowships programs under
(6) For the advanced scientific computing activities under section 976— 1
(A) $270,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
(B) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
(C) $375,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
(7) For the science and engineering education pilot program under
(A) $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 and 2008; and
(B) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
(d) Integrated bioenergy research and development
In addition to amounts otherwise authorized by this section, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for integrated bioenergy research and development programs, projects, and activities, $49,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2005 through 2009. Activities funded under this subsection shall be coordinated with ongoing related programs of other Federal agencies, including the Plant Genome Program of the National Science Foundation. Of the funds authorized under this subsection, at least $5,000,000 for each fiscal year shall be for training and education targeted to minority and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
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References in Text
This part, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b), was in the original "this subtitle", meaning subtitle G (§§971–984A) of title IX of
Section 976, referred to in subsecs. (b) and (c)(6), is section 976 of
Amendments
2011—Subsec. (b)(5) to (7).
2007—Subsec. (b)(4).
1 See References in Text note below.
§16312. Fusion energy sciences program
(a) Declaration of policy
It shall be the policy of the United States to conduct research, development, demonstration, and commercial applications to provide for the scientific, engineering, and commercial infrastructure necessary to ensure that the United States is competitive with other countries in providing fusion energy for its own needs and the needs of other countries, including by demonstrating electric power or hydrogen production for the United States energy grid using fusion energy at the earliest date.
(b) Planning
(1) In general
Not later than 180 days after August 8, 2005, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a plan (with proposed cost estimates, budgets, and lists of potential international partners) for the implementation of the policy described in subsection (a) in a manner that ensures that—
(A) existing fusion research facilities are more fully used;
(B) fusion science, technology, theory, advanced computation, modeling, and simulation are strengthened;
(C) new magnetic and inertial fusion research and development facilities are selected based on scientific innovation and cost effectiveness, and the potential of the facilities to advance the goal of practical fusion energy at the earliest date practicable;
(D) facilities that are selected are funded at a cost-effective rate;
(E) communication of scientific results and methods between the fusion energy science community and the broader scientific and technology communities is improved;
(F) inertial confinement fusion facilities are used to the extent practicable for the purpose of inertial fusion energy research and development;
(G) attractive alternative inertial and magnetic fusion energy approaches are more fully explored; and
(H) to the extent practicable, the recommendations of the Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee in the report on workforce planning, dated March 2004, are carried out, including periodic reassessment of program needs.
(2) Costs and schedules
The plan shall also address the status of and, to the extent practicable, costs and schedules for—
(A) the design and implementation of international or national facilities for the testing of fusion materials; and
(B) the design and implementation of international or national facilities for the testing and development of key fusion technologies.
(c) United States participation in ITER
(1) Definitions
In this subsection:
(A) Construction
(i) In general
The term "construction" means—
(I) the physical construction of the ITER facility; and
(II) the physical construction, purchase, or manufacture of equipment or components that are specifically designed for the ITER facility.
(ii) Exclusions
The term "construction" does not include the design of the facility, equipment, or components.
(B) ITER
The term "ITER" means the international burning plasma fusion research project in which the President announced United States participation on January 30, 2003, or any similar international project.
(2) Participation
The United States may participate in the ITER only in accordance with this subsection.
(3) Agreement
(A) In general
The Secretary may negotiate an agreement for United States participation in the ITER.
(B) Contents
Any agreement for United States participation in the ITER shall, at a minimum—
(i) clearly define the United States financial contribution to construction and operating costs, as well as any other costs associated with a project;
(ii) ensure that the share of high-technology components of the ITER manufactured in the United States is at least proportionate to the United States financial contribution to the ITER;
(iii) ensure that the United States will not be financially responsible for cost overruns in components manufactured in other ITER participating countries;
(iv) guarantee the United States full access to all data generated by the ITER;
(v) enable United States researchers to propose and carry out an equitable share of the experiments at the ITER;
(vi) provide the United States with a role in all collective decisionmaking related to the ITER; and
(vii) describe the process for discontinuing or decommissioning the ITER and any United States role in that process.
(4) Plan
(A) Development
The Secretary, in consultation with the Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee, shall develop a plan for the participation of United States scientists in the ITER that shall include—
(i) the United States research agenda for the ITER;
(ii) methods to evaluate whether the ITER is promoting progress toward making fusion a reliable and affordable source of power; and
(iii) a description of how work at the ITER will relate to other elements of the United States fusion program.
(B) Review
The Secretary shall request a review of the plan by the National Academy of Sciences.
(5) Limitation
No Federal funds shall be expended for the construction of the ITER until the Secretary has submitted to Congress—
(A) the agreement negotiated in accordance with paragraph (3) and 120 days have elapsed since that submission;
(B) a report describing the management structure of the ITER and providing a fixed dollar estimate of the cost of United States participation in the construction of the ITER, and 120 days have elapsed since that submission;
(C) a report describing how United States participation in the ITER will be funded without reducing funding for other programs in the Office of Science (including other fusion programs), and 60 days have elapsed since that submission; and
(D) the plan required by paragraph (4) (but not the National Academy of Sciences review of that plan), and 60 days have elapsed since that submission.
(6) Alternative to ITER
(A) In general
If at any time during the negotiations on the ITER, the Secretary determines that construction and operation of the ITER is unlikely or infeasible, the Secretary shall submit to Congress, along with the budget request of the President submitted to Congress for the following fiscal year, a plan for implementing a domestic burning plasma experiment such as the Fusion Ignition Research Experiment, including costs and schedules for the plan.
(B) Administration
The Secretary shall—
(i) refine the plan in full consultation with the Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee; and
(ii) transmit the plan to the National Academy of Sciences for review.
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§16313. Catalysis research program
(a) Establishment
The Secretary, acting through the Office of Science, shall support a program of research and development in catalysis science consistent with the statutory authorities of the Department related to research and development.
(b) Components
The program shall include efforts to—
(1) enable catalyst design using combinations of experimental and mechanistic methodologies coupled with computational modeling of catalytic reactions at the molecular level;
(2) develop techniques for high throughput synthesis, assay, and characterization at nanometer and subnanometer scales in-situ under actual operating conditions;
(3) synthesize catalysts with specific site architectures;
(4) conduct research on the use of precious metals for catalysis; and
(5) translate molecular understanding to the design of catalytic compounds.
(c) Duties of the Office of Science
In carrying out the program, the Director of the Office of Science shall—
(1) support both individual investigators and multidisciplinary teams of investigators to pioneer new approaches in catalytic design;
(2) develop, plan, construct, acquire, share, or operate special equipment or facilities for the use of investigators in collaboration with national user facilities, such as nanoscience and engineering centers;
(3) support technology transfer activities to benefit industry and other users of catalysis science and engineering; and
(4) coordinate research and development activities with industry and other Federal agencies.
(d) Assessment
Not later than 3 years after August 8, 2005, the Secretary shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences to—
(1) review the catalysis program to measure—
(A) gains made in the fundamental science of catalysis; and
(B) progress towards developing new fuels for energy production and material fabrication processes; and
(2) submit to Congress a report describing the results of the review.
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§16314. Hydrogen
(a) In general
The Secretary shall conduct a program of fundamental research and development in support of programs authorized under subchapter VIII.
(b) Methods
The program shall include support for methods of generating hydrogen without the use of natural gas.
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§16315. Solid state lighting
The Secretary shall conduct a program of fundamental research on solid state lighting in support of the Next Generation Lighting Initiative carried out under
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§16316. Advanced scientific computing research and development program
(1) In general
The Secretary shall conduct an advanced scientific computing research and development program that includes activities related to applied mathematics and activities authorized by the Department of Energy High-End Computing Revitalization Act of 2004 (
(2) Goal
The Secretary shall carry out the program with the goal of supporting departmental missions, and providing the high-performance computational, networking, advanced visualization technologies, and workforce resources, that are required for world leadership in science.
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References in Text
The Department of Energy High-End Computing Revitalization Act of 2004, referred to in par. (1), is
§16317. Systems biology program
(a) Program
(1) Establishment
The Secretary shall establish a research, development, and demonstration program in microbial and plant systems biology, protein science, computational biology, and environmental science to support the energy, national security, and environmental missions of the Department.
(2) Grants
The program shall support individual researchers and multidisciplinary teams of researchers through competitive, merit-reviewed grants.
(3) Consultation
In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall consult with other Federal agencies that conduct genetic and protein research.
(b) Goals
The program shall have the goal of developing technologies and methods based on the biological functions of genomes, microbes, and plants that—
(1) can facilitate the production of fuels, including hydrogen in sustainable production systems that reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
(2) convert carbon dioxide to organic carbon;
(3) detoxify soils and water, including at facilities of the Department, contaminated with heavy metals and radiological materials;
(4) develop cellulosic and other feedstocks that are less resource and land intensive and that promote sustainable use of resources, including soil, water, energy, forests, and land, and ensure protection of air, water, and soil quality; and
(5) address other Department missions as identified by the Secretary.
(c) Plan
(1) Development of plan
Not later than 1 year after August 8, 2005, the Secretary shall prepare and transmit to Congress a research plan describing how the program authorized pursuant to this section will be undertaken to accomplish the program goals established in subsection (b).
(2) Review of plan
The Secretary shall contract with the National Academy of Sciences to review the research plan developed under this subsection. The Secretary shall transmit the review to Congress not later than 18 months after transmittal of the research plan under paragraph (1), along with the Secretary's response to the recommendations contained in the review.
(d) User facilities and ancillary equipment
Within the funds authorized to be appropriated pursuant to this part, amounts shall be available for projects to develop, plan, construct, acquire, or operate special equipment, instrumentation, or facilities, including user facilities at National Laboratories, for researchers conducting research, development, demonstration, and commercial application in systems biology and proteomics and associated biological disciplines.
(e) Prohibition on biomedical and human cell and human subject research
(1) No biomedical research
In carrying out the program under this section, the Secretary shall not conduct biomedical research.
(2) Limitations
Nothing in this section shall authorize the Secretary to conduct any research or demonstrations—
(A) on human cells or human subjects; or
(B) designed to have direct application with respect to human cells or human subjects.
(f) Bioenergy research centers
(1) Establishment of centers
In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall establish at least 7 bioenergy research centers, which may be of varying size.
(2) Geographic distribution
The Secretary shall establish at least 1 bioenergy research center in each Petroleum Administration for Defense District or Subdistrict of a Petroleum Administration for Defense District.
(3) Goals
The goals of the centers established under this subsection shall be to accelerate basic transformational research and development of biofuels, including biological processes.
(4) Selection and duration
(A) In general
A center under this subsection shall be selected on a competitive basis for a period of 5 years.
(B) Reapplication
After the end of the period described in subparagraph (A), a grantee may reapply for selection on a competitive basis.
(5) Inclusion
A center that is in existence on December 19, 2007—
(A) shall be counted towards the requirement for establishment of at least 7 bioenergy research centers; and
(B) may continue to receive support for a period of 5 years beginning on the date of establishment of the center.
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References in Text
This part, referred to in subsec. (d), was in the original "this subtitle", meaning subtitle G (§§971–984A) of title IX of
Amendments
2007—Subsec. (a)(1).
Subsec. (b)(1).
Subsec. (b)(4), (5).
Subsec. (f).
Effective Date of 2007 Amendment
Amendment by
§16318. Fission and fusion energy materials research program
(a) In general
Along with the budget request of the President submitted to Congress for fiscal year 2007, the Secretary shall establish a research and development program on material science issues presented by advanced fission reactors and the fusion energy program of the Department.
(b) Administration
In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall develop—
(1) a catalog of material properties required for applications described in subsection (a);
(2) theoretical models for materials possessing the required properties;
(3) benchmark models against existing data; and
(4) a roadmap to guide further research and development in the area covered by the program.
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§16319. Energy and water supplies
(a) In general
The Secretary shall carry out a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application to—
(1) address energy-related issues associated with provision of adequate water supplies, optimal management, and efficient use of water;
(2) address water-related issues associated with the provision of adequate supplies, optimal management, and efficient use of energy; and
(3) assess the effectiveness of existing programs within the Department and other Federal agencies to address these energy and water related issues.
(b) Program elements
The program under this section shall include—
(1) arsenic treatment;
(2) desalination; and
(3) planning, analysis, and modeling of energy and water supply and demand.
(c) Collaboration
In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall consult with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of the Interior, the Chief Engineer of the Army Corps of Engineers, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Defense, and other Federal agencies as appropriate.
(d) Facilities
The Secretary may utilize all existing facilities within the Department and may design and construct additional facilities as needed to carry out the purposes of this program.
(e) Advisory committee
The Secretary shall establish or utilize an advisory committee to provide independent advice and review of the program.
(f) Reports
Not later than 2 years after August 8, 2005, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the assessment described in subsection (b) and recommendations for future actions.
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§16320. Spallation Neutron Source
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) SING
The term "SING" means the Spallation Neutron Source Instruments Next Generation major item of equipment.
(2) SNS power upgrade
The term "SNS power upgrade" means the Spallation Neutron Source power upgrade described in the 20-year facilities plan of the Office of Science of the Department.
(3) SNS second target station
The term "SNS second target station" means the Spallation Neutron Source second target station described in the 20-year facilities plan of the Office of Science of the Department.
(4) Spallation Neutron Source Facility
The terms "Spallation Neutron Source Facility" and "Facility" mean the completed Spallation Neutron Source scientific user facility located at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
(5) Spallation Neutron Source Project
The terms "Spallation Neutron Source Project" and "Project" means Department Project 99–E–334, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
(b) Spallation Neutron Source Project
(1) In general
The Secretary shall submit to Congress, as part of the annual budget request of the President submitted to Congress, a report on progress on the Spallation Neutron Source Project.
(2) Contents
The report shall include for the Project—
(A) a description of the achievement of milestones;
(B) a comparison of actual costs to estimated costs; and
(C) any changes in estimated Project costs or schedule.
(c) Spallation Neutron Source Facility plan
(1) In general
The Secretary shall develop an operational plan for the Spallation Neutron Source Facility that ensures that the Facility is employed to the full capability of the Facility in support of the study of advanced materials, nanoscience, and other missions of the Office of Science of the Department.
(2) Plan
The operational plan shall—
(A) include a plan for the operation of an effective scientific user program that—
(i) is based on peer review of proposals submitted for use of the Facility;
(ii) includes scientific and technical support to ensure that external users, including researchers based at institutions of higher education, are able to make full use of a variety of high quality scientific instruments; and
(iii) phases in systems upgrades to ensure that the Facility remains at the forefront of international scientific endeavors in the field of the Facility throughout the operating life of the Facility;
(B) include an ongoing program to develop new instruments that builds on the high performance neutron source and that allows neutron scattering techniques to be applied to a growing range of scientific problems and disciplines; and
(C) address the status of and, to the maximum extent practicable, costs and schedules for—
(i) full user mode operations of the Facility;
(ii) instrumentation built at the Facility during the operating phase through full use of the experimental hall, including the SING;
(iii) the SNS power upgrade; and
(iv) the SNS second target station.
(d) Authorization of appropriations
(1) Spallation Neutron Source Project
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Spallation Neutron Source Project for the lifetime of the Project $1,411,700,000 for total project costs, of which—
(A) $1,192,700,000 shall be used for the costs of construction; and
(B) $219,000,000 shall be used for other Project costs.
(2) Spallation Neutron Source Facility
(A) In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), there is authorized to be appropriated for the Spallation Neutron Source Facility for—
(i) the SING, $75,000,000 for each of fiscal year 2007 through 2009; and
(ii) the SNS power upgrade, $160,000,000, to remain available until expended.
(B) Insufficient stockpiles of heavy water
If stockpiles of heavy water of the Department are insufficient to meet the needs of the Facility, there is authorized to be appropriated for the Facility $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
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§16321. Rare Isotope Accelerator
(a) Establishment
The Secretary shall construct and operate a Rare Isotope Accelerator. The Secretary shall commence construction no later than September 30, 2008.
(b) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. The Secretary shall not spend more than $1,100,000,000 in Federal funds for all activities associated with the Rare Isotope Accelerator, prior to operation of the Accelerator.
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§16322. Office of Scientific and Technical Information
The Secretary, through the Office of Scientific and Technical Information, shall maintain within the Department publicly available collections of scientific and technical information resulting from research, development, demonstration, and commercial applications activities supported by the Department.
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§16323. Science and engineering education pilot program
(a) Establishment of pilot program
The Secretary shall award a grant to a Southeastern United States consortium of major research universities that currently advances science and education by partnering with National Laboratories, to establish a regional pilot program of its SEEK–16 program for enhancing scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematical literacy, creativity, and decision-making. The consortium shall include leading research universities, one or more universities that train substantial numbers of elementary and secondary school teachers, and (where appropriate) National Laboratories.
(b) Program elements
The regional pilot program shall include—
(1) expanding strategic, formal partnerships among universities with strength in research, universities that train substantial numbers of elementary and secondary school teachers, and the private sector;
(2) combining Department expertise with one or more National Aeronautics and Space Administration Educator Resource Centers;
(3) developing programs to permit current and future teachers to participate in ongoing research projects at National Laboratories and research universities and to adapt lessons learned to the classroom;
(4) designing and implementing course work;
(5) designing and implementing a strategy for measuring and assessing progress under the program; and
(6) developing models for transferring knowledge gained under the pilot program to other institutions and areas of the United States.
(c) Categorization
A grant under this section shall be considered an authorized activity under
(d) Report
No later than 2 years after the award of the grant, the Secretary shall transmit to Congress a report outlining lessons learned and, if determined appropriate by the Secretary, containing a plan for expanding the program throughout the United States.
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§16324. Energy research fellowships
(a) Postdoctoral fellowship program
The Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary provides fellowships to encourage outstanding young scientists and engineers to pursue postdoctoral research appointments in energy research and development at institutions of higher education of their choice.
(b) Senior research fellowships
(1) In general
The Secretary shall establish a program under which the Secretary provides fellowships to allow outstanding senior researchers and their research groups in energy research and development to explore research and development topics of their choosing for a period of not less than 3 years, to be determined by the Secretary.
(2) Consideration
In providing a fellowship under the program described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consider—
(A) the past scientific or technical accomplishment of a senior researcher; and
(B) the potential for continued accomplishment by the researcher during the period of the fellowship.
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§16325. Science and Technology Scholarship Program
(a) In general
The Secretary is authorized to establish a Science and Technology Scholarship Program to award scholarships to individuals that is designed to recruit and prepare students for careers in the Department and National Laboratories.
(b) Service requirement
The Secretary may require that an individual receiving a scholarship under this section serve as a full-time employee of the Department or a National Laboratory for a fixed period in return for receiving the scholarship.
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