AUTHORITY FOR EMERGENCY PLANNING, DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES.

SEC. 3126. AUTHORITY FOR EMERGENCY PLANNING, DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES. (a) Authority.—The Secretary of Energy may use any funds available to the Department of Energy pursuant to an authorization in this title, including funds authorized to be appropriated for advance planning, engineering, and construction design, and for plant projects, under sections 3101, 3102, 3103, and 3104 to perform planning, design, and construction activities for any Department of Energy national security program construction project that, as determined by the Secretary, must proceed expeditiously in order to protect public health and safety, to meet the needs of national defense, or to protect property. (b) Limitation.—The Secretary may not exercise the authority under subsection (a) in the case of any construction project until the Secretary has submitted to the congressional defense committees a report on the activities that the Secretary intends to carry out under this section and the circumstances making those activities necessary. (c) Specific Authority.—The requirement of section 3125(b)(2) does not apply to emergency planning, design, and construction activities conducted under this section.