42 U.S.C. § 16275: Department of Energy civilian nuclear infrastructure and facilities

The Secretary shall operate and maintain infrastructure and facilities to support the nuclear energy research, development, demonstration, and commercial application programs, including radiological facilities management, isotope production, and facilities management. develop an inventory of nuclear science and engineering facilities, equipment, expertise, and other assets at all of the National Laboratories; develop a prioritized list of nuclear science and engineering plant and equipment improvements needed at each of the National Laboratories; consider the available facilities and expertise at all National Laboratories and emphasize investments which complement rather than duplicate capabilities; and develop a timeline and a proposed budget for the completion of deferred maintenance on plant and equipment, with the goal of ensuring that Department programs under this part will be generally recognized to be among the best in the world. Not later than December 31, 2017 , the Secretary shall provide for a versatile reactor-based fast neutron source, which shall operate as a national user facility. In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall consult with the private sector, institutions of higher education, the National Laboratories, and relevant Federal agencies to ensure that the user facility described in subparagraph (A) will meet the research needs of the largest practicable majority of prospective users. As soon as practicable after determining the mission need under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a detailed plan for the establishment of the user facility. Fast neutron spectrum irradiation capability. Capacity for upgrades to accommodate new or expanded research needs. Capabilities that support experimental high-temperature testing. Providing a source of fast neutrons at a neutron flux, higher than that at which current research facilities operate, sufficient to enable research for an optimal base of prospective users. Maximizing irradiation flexibility and irradiation volume to accommodate as many concurrent users as possible. Capabilities for irradiation with neutrons of a lower energy spectrum. Multiple loops for fuels and materials testing in different coolants. Additional pre-irradiation and post-irradiation examination capabilities. Lifetime operating costs and lifecycle costs. The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, complete construction of, and approve the start of operations for, the user facility by not later than December 31, 2026 . The Secretary shall include in the annual budget request of the Department an explanation for any delay in the progress of the Department in completing the user facility by the deadline described in paragraph (4). The Secretary shall leverage the best practices for management, construction, and operation of national user facilities from the Office of Science. $295,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; $348,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; $525,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; $534,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and $584,000,000 for fiscal year 2025. experimental capabilities and testing facilities; computational capabilities, modeling, and simulation tools; access to existing datasets and data validation tools; and technical assistance with guidance or processes as needed. The Secretary shall select industry partners for awards on a competitive merit-reviewed basis. the information disclosed by the Department as described in paragraph (1); and any existing facilities the Department will provide for public private partnership activities.