TRITIUM PRODUCTION.

SEC. 3135. TRITIUM PRODUCTION. (a) Tritium Production Decision.—(1) Not later than December 31, 1998, the Secretary of Energy shall make a final decision on the technologies to be utilized, and the schedule to be adopted, for tritium production in order to meet the requirements in the Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Memorandum relating to tritium production, including the 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 particular, the requirements for the so-called “upload hedge” component of the nuclear weapons stockpile. (B) The activities of the Department of Energy relating to the evaluation and demonstration of technologies under the accelerator program and the commercial light water reactor program. (C) The potential liabilities and benefits of each potential technology for tritium production, including— (i) regulatory and other barriers that might prevent the production of tritium using the technology by the production date referred to in paragraph (1); (ii) potential difficulties, if any, in licensing the technology; (iii) the variability, if any, in tritium production rates using the technology; and (iv) any other benefits (including scientific or research benefits or the generation of revenue) associated with the technology. (b) Reports on Decision.—(1) Upon making a final decision under paragraph (1) of subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the final decision. The report shall include an assessment of how the selected technology addresses the items taken into account under paragraph (2) of that subsection. (2) If the Secretary determines that it is not possible to make the final decision by the date specified in paragraph (1) of subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees on that date a report that explains in detail why the final decision cannot be made by that date.111 STAT. 2038 (c) Limitation on Availability of Funds.—The Secretary may not obligate or expend any funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for the Department of Energy by this Act for the purpose of evaluating or utilizing any technology for the production of tritium other than a commercial light water reactor or an accelerator until the later of— (1) January 31, 1999; or (2) the date that is 30 days after the date on which the Secretary makes a final decision under subsection (a).