The Secretary shall conduct an advanced fuel recycling technology research, development, and demonstration program (referred to in this section as the “program”) to evaluate proliferation-resistant fuel recycling and transmutation technologies that minimize environmental and public health and safety impacts as an alternative to aqueous reprocessing technologies deployed as of August 8, 2005, in support of evaluation of alternative national strategies for spent nuclear fuel and the Generation IV advanced reactor concepts.

The program shall be subject to annual review by the Nuclear Energy Research Advisory Committee of the Department or other independent entity, as appropriate.

In carrying out the program, the Secretary is encouraged to seek opportunities to enhance the progress of the program through international cooperation.

The Secretary shall submit, as part of the annual budget submission of the Department, a report on the activities of the program.

(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 953, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 886; Pub. L. 115–248, § 2(c), Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3155.)