42 U.S.C. § 13492 — Program, goals, and plan

(a) Program direction. The Secretary must run a program to encourage using advanced nuclear reactor technology that, as much as practical: (1) is cost-effective compared to other commercial electric power sources with similar availability and reliability, counting life-cycle environmental costs; (2) makes it easier to design, license, build, and run a nuclear power plant using a standardized design; (3) has stronger safety features; and (4) includes features that advance the goals of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act of 1978. (b) Program goals. Near-term goals (by September 30, 1996): help finish standardized advanced light water reactor designs — that the Secretary decides meet the four features in (a) — for certification by the Commission; help finish submissions for preliminary design approval by the Commission for modular high-temperature gas-cooled reactor and liquid metal reactor designs; and evaluate "actinide burn" technology to see if it can reduce the volume of long-lived radioactive byproducts. Mid-term goals: increase the efficiency of safer, advanced light water reactors so they produce power at the lowest cost to customers; develop advanced reactor designs that are passively safe and environmentally acceptable; and finish the research needed on high-temperature gas-cooled and liquid metal reactor technology to choose, by September 30, 1998, one or both for prototype demonstration. Long-term goal: finish the research, development, and demonstration needed to design advanced reactors that can supply power to a utility grid as soon as possible, but no later than 2010. (c) Program plan. Within 180 days after October 24, 1992, the Secretary had to give Congress a 5-year plan to guide this section's work, including schedule milestones, federal funding needs, and non-federal cost-sharing requirements. In writing the plan, the Secretary had to consider: (1) the need for, and potential future adoption of, advanced nuclear reactor technologies that are available, in development, or could be developed; (2) how the federal government can make sure such technologies are ready when needed; (3) how the federal government can best work with the private sector to meet the goals in (b); and (4) possible alternative funding sources. The Secretary had to consult industry, colleges, federal agencies (including national laboratories), and professional and technical groups while writing the plan. The Secretary must update the plan every year and send the update to Congress, describing any activities running behind schedule, funding shortfalls, or anything else that might keep the Secretary from meeting the goals in (b).