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Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson today announced that the Energy Department will initiate a two-phase process for finalizing a path forward for the Fast Flux Test Facility (FFTF). The first phase, a Program Scoping Plan, will be completed within the next 90 days.

"I'm committed to maintaining a strong research infrastructure in this country," Secretary Richardson said. "Taxpayers have already invested nearly a billion dollars in the Fast Flux Test Facility. We need to respond to that investment by making the best decision on the use of this facility."

Following review of the plan, the Secretary will decide on the course for phase two. With a compelling program need identified in phase one, an Environmental Impact Statement would be initiated. The National Environmental Policy Act review process would be implemented, involving formal participation with potentially affected and interested members of the public; federal, tribal, state and local governments; and stakeholder groups. If restarted, the facility could serve in a multimission role supporting isotope production, space technology, U.S. and international research activities and irradiation services. If insufficient program needs are determined, then the facility would be deactivated.

The Program Scoping Plan will analyze possible research and other needs for the FFTF, alternatives for meeting those needs and details for a future mission and operation of the facility. Life cycle operating costs, and the interests of user communities, including letters of intent from private sector users and other government agencies would be included. The plan also will identify a proposed organizational structure, including private-public, user community and facility operations coordination.

It will be developed by the Energy Department's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in close cooperation with industry and members of the nuclear medicine and scientific communities. The plan will be presented to the Secretary for the final decision.

Last December, Secretary Richardson committed to make a decision this spring on restarting the FFTF for isotope production and research missions. At that time, the Secretary asked the Nuclear Energy Research Advisory Committee (NERAC) to recommend whether the FFTF should be considered for future missions. The NERAC recommended that the department proceed to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, but looked to the Energy Department for clarification of the program for the FFTF.

The FFTF is a 400-megawatt liquid metal reactor located on the Hanford Site near Richland, Washington. It is currently in standby status. Built in the 1970s, the FFTF represents a national investment of about one billion dollars. To construct a similarly designed reactor today, built to commercial industry standards for nuclear and industrial safety, environmental protection, and safeguards and security, would cost in excess of $2.5 billion. The FFTF's original mission was to support liquid metal reactor technology development and reactor safety by providing fuels and materials irradiation services. The reactor operated successfully from 1982 until 1992 as a national research facility to test advanced nuclear fuels, materials, components, nuclear power plant operating procedures, and active and passive reactor safety technologies. The facility was also used to produce a large number of different isotopes for medical and industrial uses, generate tritium for the U.S. fusion research program and conduct cooperative, international research work.