42 U.S.C. § 13503 : US Code - Section 13503: Supporting research and technical analysis

Search 42 U.S.C. § 13503 : US Code - Section 13503: Supporting research and technical analysis

(a) Basic energy sciences
(1) Program direction
The Secretary shall continue to support a vigorous program of
basic energy sciences to provide basic research support for the
development of energy technologies. Such program shall focus on
the efficient production and use of energy, and the expansion of
our knowledge of materials, chemistry, geology, and other related
areas of advancing technology development.
(2) User facilities
(A) As part of the program referred to in paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall carry out planning, construction, and operation
of user facilities to provide special scientific and research
capabilities, including technical expertise and support as
appropriate, to serve the research needs of our Nation's
universities, industry, private laboratories, Federal
laboratories, and others. Research institutions or individuals
from other nations shall be accommodated at such user facilities
in cases where reciprocal accommodations are provided to United
States research institutions and individuals or where the
Secretary considers such accommodation to be in the national
interest.
(B) The construction of the Advanced Photon Source at the
Argonne National Laboratory is hereby authorized.
(C) The Secretary shall not change the user fee practice in
effect as of October 1, 1991, with respect to user facilities
unless the Secretary notifies Congress 90 days before the
effective date of any change.
(D) The Secretary shall expedite the design for construction of
the Advanced Neutron Source at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory,
in order to provide critical research capabilities in support of
our national research initiatives for advanced materials and
biotechnology, as well as a broad range of research. Such action
shall be consistent with the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory
Committee's Technical Evaluation of accelerator and reactor
neutron source technologies. Within 90 days after October 24,
1992, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a plan for such
design, including a schedule for construction.
(3) Cost sharing
The Secretary shall not require cost sharing for research and
development pursuant to this subsection, except -
(A) as otherwise provided for in cooperative research and
development agreements or other agreements entered into under
existing law;
(B) for fees for user facilities, as determined by the
Secretary; or
(C) in the case of specific projects, where the Secretary
determines that the benefits of such research and development
accrue to a specific industry or group of industries, in which
case cost sharing under section 13542 of this title shall
apply.
(b) University and science education
(1) The Secretary shall support programs for improvements and
upgrading of university research reactors and associated
instrumentation and equipment. Within 1 year after October 24,
1992, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report on the
condition and status of university research reactors, which
includes a 5-year plan for upgrading and improving such facilities,
instrumentation capabilities, and related equipment.
(2) The Secretary shall develop a method to evaluate the
effectiveness of science and mathematics education programs
provided by the Department of Energy and its laboratories,
including specific evaluation criteria.
(3)(A)(i) The Director of the Office of Science shall operate an
Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (in this
paragraph referred to as "EPSCoR") as part of the Department of
Energy's University and Science Education Programs.
(ii) The objectives of EPSCoR shall be -
(I) to enhance the competitiveness of the peer-review process
within academic institutions in eligible States; and
(II) to increase the probability of long-term growth of
competitive funding to investigators at institutions from
eligible States.
(iii) In order to carry out the objectives stated in clause (ii),
EPSCoR shall provide for activities which may include (but not be
limited to) competitive research awards and graduate traineeships.
(iv) EPSCoR shall assist those States that -
(I) historically have received relatively little Federal
research and development funding; and
(II) have demonstrated a commitment to develop their research
bases and improve science and engineering research and education
programs at their universities and colleges.
(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term "eligible States"
means States that received a Department-EPSCoR planning or
traineeship grant in fiscal year 1991 or fiscal year 1992.
(C) No more than $5,000,000 of the funds appropriated to EPSCoR
in any fiscal year, through fiscal year 1997, are authorized to be
appropriated for graduate traineeships.
(c) Technology transfer
The Secretary shall support technology transfer activities
conducted by the National Laboratories. Within 1 year after October
24, 1992, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report on
the adequacy of funding for such activities, along with a proposal
recommending ways to reduce the length of time required to
consummate cooperative research and development agreements.
(d) Facilities support for multiprogram energy laboratories
(1) Facility policy
The Secretary shall develop and implement a least cost strategy
for correcting facility problems, closing unneeded facilities,
making facility modifications, and building new facilities at
multiprogram energy laboratories.
(2) Facility plan
Within 1 year after October 24, 1992, the Secretary shall
prepare and submit to the Congress a comprehensive plan for
conducting future facility maintenance, making repairs,
modifications, and new additions, and constructing new facilities
at multiprogram energy laboratories. Such plan shall provide for
facilities work in accordance with the following priorities,
listed in descending order of priority:
(A) Providing for the safety and health of employees,
visitors, and the general public with regard to correcting
existing structural, mechanical, electrical, and environmental
deficiencies.
(B) Providing for the repair and rehabilitation of existing
facilities to keep them in use and prevent deterioration.
(C) Providing engineering design and construction services
for those facilities which require modification or additions in
order to meet the needs of new or expanded programs.
Such plan shall include plans for new facilities and facility
modifications which will be required to meet the Department of
Energy's changing missions of the twenty-first century, including
schedules and estimates for implementation, and including a
section outlining long-term funding requirements consistent with
anticipated budgets and annual authorization of appropriations.
Such plan shall address the coordination of modernization and
consolidation of facilities in order to meet changing mission
requirements, and shall provide for annual reports to Congress on
accomplishments, conformance to schedules, commitments, and
expenditures.
(e) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for
Supporting Research and Technical Analysis, including Basic Energy
Sciences, Energy Research Analysis, University and Science
Education, Technology Transfer, Advisory and Oversight Program
Direction, and Facilities Support for Multiprogram Energy
Laboratories, $966,804,000 for fiscal year 1993 and such sums as
may be necessary for fiscal year 1994.