TRITIUM PRODUCTION.

SEC. 3133. TRITIUM PRODUCTION. (a) Acceleration of Tritium Production.— (1) The Secretary of Energy shall, during fiscal year 1997, make a final decision on the technologies to be utilized, and the accelerated schedule to be adopted, for tritium production in order to meet the requirements of the Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Memorandum relating to tritium production, including the new tritium production date of 2005 specified in the Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Memorandum. (2) In making the final decision, the Secretary shall take into account the following: (A) The requirements for tritium production specified in the Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Memorandum, including, in 110 STAT. 2830particular, the requirements for the “upload hedge” component of the nuclear weapons stockpile. (B) The ongoing activities of the Department of Energy relating to the evaluation and demonstration of technologies under the accelerator reactor program and the commercial light water reactor program. (b) Report.— (1) Not later than April 15, 1997, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that sets forth the final decision of the Secretary under subsection (a)(1). The report shall set forth in detail— (A) the technologies decided on under that subsection; and (B) the accelerated schedule for the production of tritium decided on under that subsection. (2) If the Secretary determines that it is not possible to make the final decision by the date specified in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to Congress on that date a report that explains in detail why the final decision cannot be made by that date. (c) New Tritium Production Facility.— The Secretary shall commence planning and design activities and infrastructure development for a new tritium production facility. (d) In-Reactor Tests.— The Secretary may perform in-reactor tests of tritium target rods as part of the activities carried out under the commercial light water reactor program. (e) Funding.— Of the funds authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Energy pursuant to section 3101(b)(1), $160,000,000 shall be available for activities related to tritium production.