Public Law 115–248: To enable civilian research and development of advanced nuclear energy technologies by private and public institutions, to expand theoretical and practical knowledge of nuclear physics, chemistry, and materials science, and for other purposes.

The Secretary shall carry out programs of civilian nuclear research, development, demonstration, and commercial application, including activities under this subtitle.

The programs carried out under paragraph (1) shall take into consideration the following objectives:

The term ‘’ means—

“(A)

The term ‘’ means the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The term ‘’ means a neutron with kinetic energy above 100 kiloelectron volts.

The term ‘’ means the intensity of neutron radiation measured as a rate of flow of neutrons applied over an area.

The term ‘’ means a research machine that provides neutron irradiation services for—

As soon as practicable after determining the mission need under paragraph (1)(A), the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a detailed plan for the establishment of the user facility.

“(A)

Capabilities.—

“(B)

Considerations.—

The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, complete construction of, and approve the start of operations for, the user facility by not later than December 31, 2025.

The Secretary shall include in the annual budget request of the Department an explanation for any delay in the progress of the Department in completing the user facility by the deadline described in paragraph (4).132 STAT. 3157

The Secretary shall leverage the best practices for management, construction, and operation of national user facilities from the Office of Science.”

Using expertise from the private sector, institutions of higher education, and the National Laboratories to develop computational software and capabilities that prospective users may access to accelerate research and development of advanced nuclear reactor systems and reactor systems for space exploration.

Developing computational tools to simulate and predict nuclear phenomena that may be validated through physical experimentation.

Increasing the utility of the research infrastructure of the Department by coordinating with the Advanced Scientific Computing Research program within the Office of Science.

Leveraging experience from the Energy Innovation Hub for Modeling and Simulation.

Ensuring that new experimental and computational tools are accessible to relevant research communities, including private sector entities engaged in nuclear energy technology development.

to simulate degradation of materials and behavior of fuel forms; and

for validation of computational tools.”

Enabling physical validation of advanced nuclear reactor concepts.

Resolving technical uncertainty and increasing practical knowledge relevant to safety, resilience, security, and functionality of advanced nuclear reactor concepts.

General research and development to improve nascent technologies.

enabling the testing and demonstration of advanced nuclear reactor concepts to be proposed and funded, in whole or in part, by the private sector;

operating a database to store and share data and knowledge relevant to nuclear science and engineering between Federal agencies and the private sector;

developing and testing electric and nonelectric integration and energy conversion systems relevant to advanced nuclear reactors;

leveraging expertise from the Commission with respect to safety analysis; and

enabling technical staff of the Commission to actively observe and learn about technologies developed under the program.

Ensuring that—

The use of computers and software codes to calculate the behavior and performance of advanced nuclear reactors based on mathematical models of the physical behavior of advanced nuclear reactors.

Ensuring that—

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act of 2017, the Secretary, in consultation with the National Laboratories, relevant Federal agencies, and other stakeholders, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report assessing the capabilities of the Department to authorize, host, and oversee privately funded experimental advanced nuclear reactors as described in subsection (b).

The report submitted under paragraph (1) shall address—

Once every 2 years, the Secretary shall update relevant provisions of the report submitted under paragraph (1) and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress the update.

Nothing in this section authorizes the Secretary or any person to construct or operate a nuclear reactor for the purpose of demonstrating the suitability for commercial application of the nuclear reactor unless licensed by the Commission in accordance with section 202 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5842).

Any activity carried out under this section that involves the risk of public liability shall be subject to the financial protection or indemnification requirements of section 170 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2210) (commonly known as the ‘Price-Anderson Act’).”

a prioritized list of the programs, projects, and activities of the Department to best support the development of advanced nuclear reactor technologies;

realistic budget requirements for the Department to implement sections 955(c), 957, and 958; and

the justification of the Department for continuing or terminating existing civilian nuclear energy research and development programs.”