Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 94 Part 2.djvu/261

 PUBLIC LAW 96-386—OCT. 7, 1980

94 STAT. 1539

Public Law 96-386 96th Congress An Act To provide for an accelerated program of research and development of magnetic — ' — fusion energy technologies leading to the construction and successful operation of [H.R. 6308] a magnetic fusion demonstration plant in the United States before the end of the twentieth century to be carried out by the Department of Energy.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That this Act may be Magnetic Fusion cited as the "Magnetic Fusion Energy Engineering Act of 1980". Engifeering Act FINDINGS AND POLICY

of 1980. 42 USC 9301 note.

SEC. 2. (a) The Congress hereby finds that— 42 USC 930i. (1) the United States must formulate an energy policy designed to meet an impending worldwide shortage of many exhaustible, conventional energy resources in the next few decades; (2) the energy policy of the United States must be designed to ensure that energy technologies using essentially inexhaustible resources are commercially available at a time prior to serious depletion of conventional resources; (3) fusion energy is one of the few known energy sources which are essentially inexhaustible, and thus constitutes a long-term energy option; (4) major progress in all aspects of magnetic fusion energy technology during the past decade instills confidence that power production from fusion energy systems is achievable; (5) the United States must aggressively pursue research and development programs in magnetic fusion designed to foster advanced concepts and advanced technology and to develop efficient, reliable components and subsystems; (6) to ensure the timely commercialization of magnetic fusion energy systems, the United States must demonstrate at an early date the engineering feasibility of magnetic fusion energy systems; (7) progress in magnetic fusion energy systems is currently limited by the funds made available rather than technical barriers; (8) it is a proper role for the Federal Government to accelerate research, development, and demonstration programs in magnetic fusion energy technologies; and (9) acceleration of the current magnetic fusion program will require a doubling within seven years of the present funding level without consideration of inflation and a 25 per centum increase in funding each of fiscal years 1982 and 1983. (b) It is therefore declared to be the policy of the United States and the purpose of this Act to accelerate the national effort in research, development, and demonstration activities related to magnetic fusion energy systems. Further, it is declared to be the policy of the United States and the purpose of this Act that the objectives of such program shall be—

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