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Congressional Request for the National Academies’ Study

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (P.L. 114-328)

SEC. 3131. INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT UNDER DEFENSE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP PROGRAM.

1. ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Energy shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct an independent assessment of the technology development efforts of the defense environmental cleanup program of the Department of Energy.
2. ELEMENTS.—The assessment under subsection (a) shall include the following:
   1. A review of the technology development efforts of the defense environmental cleanup program of the Department of Energy, including an assessment of the process by which the Secretary identifies and chooses technologies to pursue under the program.
   2. A comprehensive review and assessment of technologies or alternative approaches to defense environmental cleanup efforts that could—
      1. reduce the long-term costs of such efforts;
      2. accelerate schedules for carrying out such efforts;
      3. mitigate uncertainties, vulnerabilities, or risks relating to such efforts; or

3. 4. otherwise significantly improve the defense environmental cleanup program.
4. SUBMISSION.—Not later than the date that is 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the National Academy of Sciences shall submit to the congressional defense committees and the Secretary a report on the assessment under subsection (a).