Sec. 201 Administration
Nothing in this title or an amendment made by this title affects the methodology or designations established under section 101.
Title II — Mineral-specific actions
II Mineral-specific actions
Sec. 202 Cobalt
Authorization— The Secretary shall support research programs that focus on novel uses for cobalt (including energy technologies and super-alloys), including—
use in energy technologies (including, for purposes of this section, rechargeable batteries, catalysts, photovoltaic cells, permanent magnets, and fuel cells);
use in alloys with military equipment, civil aviation, and electricity generation applications; and
use as coal-to-gas and coal-to-liquid catalysts.
Categories— Research under this section shall be conducted in—
a fundamental category, including laboratory and literature research; and
an applied category, including plant and field research.
Report— Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report describing—
the research programs carried out under this section;
the findings of the programs; and
future research efforts planned.
Sec. 203 Lead
In general— The Secretary shall support research programs that focus on advanced lead manufacturing processes, including programs that—
contribute to the establishment of a secure, domestic supply of lead;
produce technologies that represent an environmental improvement compared to conventional production processes; or
produce technologies that attain a higher efficiency level compared to conventional production processes.
Coordination— In carrying out the programs under subsection (a), the Secretary shall coordinate with other entities to promote the development of environmentally responsible lead manufacturing, including—
other Federal agencies;
States with affected interests;
manufacturers;
energy technology manufacturers, including producers of batteries and other energy storage technologies; and
any others considered appropriate by the Secretary.
Sec. 204 Lithium
Subtitle E of title VI of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17241 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“657. Grants for lithium production research and development
“(a) Definition of eligible entity—In this section, the term eligible entity means—
“(1) a private partnership or other entity that is—
“(A) organized in accordance with Federal law; and
“(B) engaged in lithium production for use in advanced battery technologies;
“(2) a public entity, such as a State, tribal, or local governmental entity; or
“(3) a consortium of entities described in paragraphs (1) and (2).
“(b) Grants—The Secretary shall provide grants to eligible entities for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of domestic industrial processes that are designed to enhance domestic lithium production for use in advanced battery technologies, as determined by the Secretary.
“(c) Use—An eligible entity shall use a grant provided under this section to develop or enhance—
“(1) domestic industrial processes that increase lithium production, processing, or recycling for use in advanced lithium batteries; or
“(2) industrial processes associated with new formulations of lithium feedstock for use in advanced lithium batteries.”
Sec. 205 Thorium
Study— The Secretary, in consultation with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, shall conduct a study on the technical, economic, and policy issues (including nonproliferation) associated with establishing a licensing pathway for the complete thorium nuclear fuel cycle (including mining, milling, processing, fabrication, reactors, disposal, and decommissioning) that—
identifies the gaps in the technical knowledge that could lead to a licensing pathway; and
considers technologies and applications for any thorium byproducts of critical mineral production or processing.
Cooperation— In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall cooperate with appropriate—
trade associations;
equipment manufacturers;
National Laboratories;
institutions of higher education; and
other applicable entities.
Report— Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report summarizing the findings of the study.
Sec. 206 Nontraditional sources for rare earth elements
In general— The Secretary shall conduct a program to identify, research, and develop rare earth elements from nontraditional sources that—
identifies and assesses the technological feasibility of extracting rare earth elements from nontraditional sources;
develops advanced rare earth element processing technologies to increase the economic viability and improve the environmental impact of recovering rare earth elements from identified nontraditional sources; and
provides technical assistance to industrial partners to develop and demonstrate rare earth element recovery from identified nontraditional sources.
Report— Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report summarizing the activities, findings, and progress of the program.