--- kind: "section" citation: "42 U.S.C. § 16023" title: "42" title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare" number: "16023" heading: "Project organization" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/16023" units: - "Chapter 149 — National Energy Policy and Programs" - "Subchapter VI — Nuclear Matters" - "Part B — Next Generation Nuclear Plant Project" --- # §16023. Project organization - (a) **Major project elements—** The [Project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) shall consist of the following major program elements: - (1) High-temperature hydrogen production technology development and validation. - (2) Energy conversion technology development and validation. - (3) Nuclear fuel development, characterization, and qualification. - (4) Materials selection, development, testing, and qualification. - (5) Reactor and balance-of-plant design, engineering, safety analysis, and qualification. - (b) **Project phases—** The [Project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) shall be conducted in the following phases: - (1) **First project phase—** A first [project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) phase shall be conducted to— - (A) select and validate the appropriate technology under [subsection (a)(1)](#a-1); - (B) carry out enabling research, development, and demonstration activities on technologies and components under paragraphs [(2)](#a-2) through [(4)](#a-4) of subsection (a); - (C) determine whether it is appropriate to combine electricity generation and hydrogen production in a single prototype nuclear reactor and plant; and - (D) carry out initial design activities for a prototype nuclear reactor and plant, including development of design methods and safety analytical methods and studies under [subsection (a)(5)](#a-5). - (2) **Second project phase—** A second [project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) phase shall be conducted to— - (A) continue appropriate activities under paragraphs [(1)](#a-1) through [(5)](#a-5) of subsection (a); - (B) develop, through a competitive process, a final design for the prototype nuclear reactor and plant; - (C) apply for licenses to construct and operate the prototype nuclear reactor from the Nuclear Regulatory [Commission](/usc/42/16451.md?p=3); and - (D) construct and start up operations of the prototype nuclear reactor and its associated hydrogen or electricity production facilities. - (c) **Project requirements—** - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall ensure that the [Project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) is structured so as to maximize the technical interchange and transfer of technologies and ideas into the [Project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) from other sources of relevant expertise, including— - (A) the nuclear power industry, including nuclear powerplant [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) firms, particularly with respect to issues associated with plant design, [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7), and operational and safety issues; - (B) the chemical processing industry, particularly with respect to issues relating to— - (i) the use of process energy for production of hydrogen; and - (ii) the integration of technologies developed by the [Project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) into chemical processing environments; and - (C) international efforts in areas related to the [Project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12), particularly with respect to hydrogen production technologies. - (2) **International collaboration—** - (A) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall seek international cooperation, participation, and financial contributions for the [Project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12). - (B) **Assistance from international partners—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4), through the Idaho [National Laboratory](/usc/42/15801.md?p=3), may contract for assistance from specialists or facilities from member countries of the Generation IV International Forum, the Russian Federation, or other international partners if the specialists or facilities provide access to cost-effective and relevant skills or test capabilities. - (C) **Partner nations—** The [Project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) may involve demonstration of selected [project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) objectives in a partner country. - (D) **Generation IV International Forum—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall ensure that international activities of the [Project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) are coordinated with the Generation IV International Forum. - (3) **Review by Nuclear Energy Research Advisory Committee—** - (A) **In general—** The Nuclear Energy Research [Advisory Committee](/usc/42/17061.md?p=2) of the [Department](/usc/42/15801.md?p=1) (referred to in this paragraph as the “NERAC”) shall— - (i) review all program plans for the [Project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) and all progress under the [Project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) on an ongoing basis; and - (ii) ensure that important scientific, technical, safety, and program management issues receive attention in the [Project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) and by the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4). - (B) **Additional expertise—** The NERAC shall supplement the expertise of the NERAC or appoint subpanels to incorporate into the review by the NERAC the relevant sources of expertise described under [paragraph (1)](#c-1). - (C) **Initial review—** Not later than 180 days after August 8, 2005, the NERAC shall— - (i) review existing program plans for the [Project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) in light of the recommendations of the document entitled “Design Features and Technology Uncertainties for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant,” dated June 30, 2004; and - (ii) address any recommendations of the document not incorporated in program plans for the [Project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12). - (D) **First project phase review—** On a determination by the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) that the appropriate activities under the first [project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) phase under [subsection (b)(1)](#b-1) are nearly complete, the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall request the NERAC to conduct a comprehensive review of the [Project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) and to report to the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) the recommendation of the NERAC concerning whether the [Project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) is ready to proceed to the second [project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) phase under [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2). - (E) **Transmittal of reports to Congress—** Not later than 60 days after receiving any report from the NERAC related to the [Project](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12), the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall submit to the appropriate committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives a copy of the report, along with any additional views of the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) that the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) may consider appropriate. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 109–58, title VI, § 643, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 795.)