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FYI - American Institute
of Physics Bulletin of Science Policy News: Update on Spallation
Neutron Source
The Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) is a $1.36 billion accelerator-based
neutron source with proton beam power greater than 1 Megawatt.
It is being constructed by five national laboratories, with Oak
Ridge (ORNL) "as the preferred site." Design flexibility
will allow an upgrade of beam power at a later date. The SNS
is to operate at least 240 days per year.
In January the Office of Science performed a construction management
review of the project's technical, cost, schedule, and management
parameters. This examination found that the project had substantially
met the requirements of a 1998 in-house review. The review's
major recommendation was for a different management approach.
Recent legislation requires external reviews of DOE projects
of this magnitude. This review was performed, making basically
the same recommendations.
Congress provided $130 million this year for the SNS and its
permission to begin some design and construction activities.
(The original request was $157 million; the House bill would
have only provided $100 million "due to severe budget constraints."
The Senate version of the bill would have funded the request
in full. The final bill essentially split the difference.) This
year, the request is $214 million for FY 2000. Hearings will
be held in the next few months by both the House and Senate Energy
and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittees. Take note
that the House subcommittee chairman, Ron Packard (R-CA), is
new to both his chairmanship and to this subcommittee.
February 23, 1999- Richard M. Jones- AIP Public Information
Division - fyi@aip.org
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