Review of DOE's Nuclear Energy Research and Development Program (BEES)

Released 10.29.07

There has been a substantial resurgence of interest in nuclear power in the United States over the past few years.  One consequence has been a rapid growth in the research budget of DOE's Office of Nuclear Energy (NE).   In light of this growth, the Office of Management and Budget included within the FY2006 budget request a study by the National Academy of Sciences to review the NE research programs and recommend priorities among those programs.  The programs to be evaluated were: Nuclear Power 2010 (NP 2010), Generation IV (GEN IV), the Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative (NHI), the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP)/Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI), and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) facilities.  This report presents a description and analysis of each program along with specific findings and recommendations.  It also provides an assessment of program priorities and oversight. 

Executive Summary

Assessment of the Results of External Independent Reviews for U.S. Department of Energy Projects (BICE)

Released 03.14.07

External independent reviews (EIR) and independent project reviews are essential parts of the U.S. Department of Energy’s project management. These reviews were established as part of the critical decision process for project management set forth in DOE Order 413.3 issued in 2000. In addition, Congress continues to support the use of EIRs to validate project performance baselines. For EIRs to be most effective in a time of growing budget pressure, DOE must ensure that they are effectively planned, efficiently executed, and provide added value to the projects. To assist in meeting these goals, DOE asked the NRC for advice on how EIRs can be tailored to ensure that essential information is provided at the optimum point in the critical decision process; that resources are focused on the riskiest projects; and that EIRs are cost effective. This report presents a review of characteristics of effective EIRs, an assessment of criteria for structuring review programs, and recommendations for enhancing the EIR process.