IIB 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4378 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 14, 2018 

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural 

Resources 

AN ACT 

To direct the Secretary of Energy to carry out the construction of a versatile reactor-based fast neutron source, 

and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Nuclear Energy Re3 search Infrastructure Act of 2018’’. 

4 SEC. 2. VERSATILE NEUTRON SOURCE. 

5 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Energy shall 

6 provide for a versatile reactor-based fast neutron source, 

7 which shall operate as a national user facility. The Sec8 retary shall consult with the private sector, universities, 

9 National Laboratories, and relevant Federal agencies to 

10 ensure that the versatile neutron source is capable of 

11 meeting Federal research needs for neutron irradiation 

12 services. 

13 (b) FACILITY CAPABILITIES.— 

14 (1) CAPABILITIES.—The Secretary shall ensure 

15 that the facility described in subsection (a) will pro16 vide, at a minimum, the following capabilities: 

17 (A) Fast neutron spectrum irradiation ca18 pability. 

19 (B) Capacity for upgrades to accommodate 

20 new or expanded research needs. 

21 (2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out para22 graph (1), the Secretary shall consider the following: 

23 (A) Capabilities that support experimental 

24 high-temperature testing. 

25 (B) Providing a source of fast neutrons at 

26 a neutron flux higher than that at which existVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:57 Feb 15, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H4378.RFS H4378

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1 ing research facilities operate, sufficient to en2 able research for an optimal base of prospective 

3 users. 

4 (C) Maximizing irradiation flexibility and 

5 irradiation volume to accommodate as many 

6 concurrent users as possible. 

7 (D) Capabilities for irradiation with neu8 trons of a lower energy spectrum. 

9 (E) Multiple loops for fuels and materials 

10 testing of different coolants. 

11 (F) Capabilities that support irradiating 

12 and processing targets for isotope production. 

13 (G) Additional pre-irradiation and post-ir14 radiation examination capabilities. 

15 (H) Lifetime operating costs and lifecycle 

16 costs. 

17 (c) START OF OPERATIONS.—The Secretary shall, to 

18 the maximum extent practicable, ensure that the start of 

19 full operations of the facility under this section occurs be20 fore December 31, 2025. 

21 (d) FUNDING.—There are authorized to be appro22 priated to the Secretary for the Office of Nuclear Energy 

23 to carry out to completion the construction of the facility 

24 under this section— 

25 (1) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; 


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1 (2) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; 

2 (3) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; 

3 (4) $260,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; 

4 (5) $340,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; 

5 (6) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; 

6 (7) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; and 

7 (8) $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2025. 

8 SEC. 3. SPENDING LIMITATION. 

9 No additional funds are authorized to be appro10 priated to carry out this Act and the amendments made 

11 by this Act, and this Act and such amendments shall be 

12 carried out using amounts otherwise available for such 

13 purpose. 

Passed the House of Representatives February 13, 

2018. 

Attest: KAREN L. HAAS, 

Clerk. 


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