I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2569
To require the Secretary of Energy to immediately begin returning the Fast
Flux Test Facility to operational status, identify which missions will
be given the highest priority, and prepare the facility to carry out
those missions.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 1, 1995
Mr. HASTINGS of Washington introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on Com-
merce and National Security, for a period to be subsequently determined
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Energy to immediately begin
returning the Fast Flux Test Facility to operational sta-
tus, identify which missions will be given the highest
priority, and prepare the facility to carry out those mis-
sions.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. RETURN TO OPERATIONAL STATUS.
The Secretary of Energy (in this Act referred to as
the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall immediately discontinue the shut-
down of the Fast Flux Test Facility (in this Act referred
to as the ‘‘Facility’’), and take action necessary to begin
returning the Facility to operational status. To the extent
possible, the technical staff shall be retained, and all docu-
ments, materials, spare parts, components and capabilities
shall be preserved. The Facility shall be maintained in op-
eration by the Secretary for at least 20 years, and for so
much longer as it remains capable of performing missions
established for it under section 2.
SEC. 2. MISSIONS.
(a) TASK FORCE.—
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish a task force, to be composed of one individ-
ual each selected by—
(A) the National Academy of Sciences;
(B) the American Physical Society;
(C) the American Nuclear Society;
(D) the College of Nuclear Physicians; and
(E) the Nuclear Engineering Department
Heads Organization.
(2) DUTIES.—The task force established under
paragraph (1) shall, within 6 months after the date
of the enactment of this Act, transmit a report to
the Congress that establishes a ranked list of mis-
sions for the Facility. Such list shall be established
in consultation with the operating contractor of the
Facility, taking into consideration the widest pos-
sible range of potential uses, both governmental and
nongovernmental, for the Facility. Such uses shall
include the following:
(A) Reestablishing world leadership in ben-
eficial nuclear technology and nuclear medicine.
(B) The production of medical and other
isotopes for use or sale by Federal or non-Fed-
eral entities.
(C) The production of tritium needed to
maintain the safety and reliability of our de-
fense stockpile.
(D) Irradiation services to support re-
search and commercial objectives.
(E) Demonstration programs to verify fast
reactor capability to convert radioactive waste
or weapons materials into a safer form.
(F) Materials testing and physics research.
(G) Service as a training center.
(H) The production of steam to be used or
sold by Federal or non-Federal entities, and for
the testing of steam generators.
(3) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the
task force shall receive travel expenses, including per
diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sec-
tions 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Secretary shall imple-
ment the recommendations of the task force as missions
of the Facility.
SEC. 3. AGREEMENTS.
The Secretary may enter into agreements with do-
mestic and foreign entities for participation of such enti-
ties in the missions of the Facility.
SEC. 4. OPERATIONS CONTRACT.
Any contract entered into by the Secretary after the
date of the enactment of this Act for the operation of the
Facility shall include provisions to—
(1) ensure that all operations and experiments
meet applicable safety requirements and acceptance
criteria;
(2) provide necessary support services to the
non-Federal entities that have entered into agree-
ments pursuant to section 3;
(3) provide indemnification pursuant to section
170d. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C.
2210(d));
(4) indemnify, protect, and hold harmless the
contractor from and against all liability, including li-