Posting of the Presidential Policy Directive 6 (Space Policy), “National Strategy for Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion”, 83923-83927 [2020-28457]
Download as PDF
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 23, 2020 / Notices
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general
public and Federal agencies with an
opportunity to comment on proposed,
revised, and continuing collections of
information. This helps the Department
assess the impact of its information
collection requirements and minimize
the public’s reporting burden. It also
helps the public understand the
Department’s information collection
requirements and provide the requested
data in the desired format. ED is
soliciting comments on the proposed
information collection request (ICR) that
is described below. The Department of
Education is especially interested in
public comment addressing the
following issues: (1) Is this collection
necessary to the proper functions of the
Department; (2) will this information be
processed and used in a timely manner;
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate;
(4) how might the Department enhance
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected; and (5) how
might the Department minimize the
burden of this collection on the
respondents, including through the use
of information technology. Please note
that written comments received in
response to this notice will be
considered public records..
Title of Collection: Annual Report on
Appeals Process (RSA–722).
OMB Control Number: 1820–0563.
Type of Review: An extension without
change of a currently approved
collection.
Respondents/Affected Public: State,
Local, and Tribal Governments.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 78.
Total Estimated Number of Annual
Burden Hours: 156.
Abstract: Pursuant to Subsection
102(c)(8)(A) and (B) of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended
by Title IV of the Workforce Innovation
and Opportunity Act, the RSA–722 is
needed to meet specific data collection
requirements on the number of requests
for mediations, hearings, administrative
reviews, and other methods of dispute
resolution requested and the manner in
which they were resolved. The
information collected is used to evaluate
the types of complaints made by
applicants and eligible individuals of
the vocational rehabilitation program
and the final resolution of appeals filed.
Respondents are State agencies that
administer the Federal/State Program
for Vocational Rehabilitation.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
21:21 Dec 22, 2020
Jkt 253001
Dated: December 18, 2020.
Kate Mullan,
PRA Coordinator, Strategic Collections and
Clearance, Governance and Strategy Division,
Office of Chief Data Officer, Office of
Planning, Evaluation and Policy
Development.
83923
which solar and chemical power are
inadequate. They can produce more
power at lower mass and volume
compared to other energy sources,
thereby enabling persistent presence
and operations. SNPP systems also can
shorten transit times for crewed and
[FR Doc. 2020–28348 Filed 12–22–20; 8:45 am]
robotic spacecraft, thereby reducing
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
radiation exposure in harsh space
environments.
National Security Presidential
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Memorandum-20 (NSPM–20) of August
20, 2019 (Launch of Spacecraft
Posting of the Presidential Policy
Containing Space Nuclear Systems),
Directive 6 (Space Policy), ‘‘National
updated the process for launches of
Strategy for Space Nuclear Power and
spacecraft containing space nuclear
Propulsion’’
systems. It established it as the policy of
the United States to ’’develop and use
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary,
space nuclear systems when such
Department of Energy.
systems safely enable or enhance space
ACTION: Notice.
exploration or operational capabilities.’’
SUMMARY: Presidential Policy Directive 6
Cooperation with commercial and
(Space Policy) directs implementation
international partners is critical to
of the National Strategy for Space
achieving America’s objectives for space
Nuclear Power and Propulsion. The
exploration. Presidential Policy
Secretary is authorized and directed to
Directive 4 of June 28, 2010 (National
publish the Memorandum in the
Space Policy), as amended by the
Federal Register.
Presidential Memorandum of December
11, 2017 (Reinvigorating America’s
DATES: Presidential Policy Directive 6
Human Space Exploration Program),
was signed on December 16, 2020.
established it as the policy of the United
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
States to ‘‘[l]ead an innovative and
further information about this Notice,
sustainable program of exploration with
please contact Ms. Tracey Bishop,
commercial and international partners
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear
to enable human expansion across the
Infrastructure Programs, U.S.
solar system and to bring back to Earth
Department of Energy, 19901
new knowledge and opportunities.’’
Germantown Road, Germantown, MD
This memorandum establishes a
20874; phone: 301–903–5543; email to:
national strategy to ensure the
Tracey.Bishop@nuclear.energy.gov.
development and use of SNPP systems
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
when appropriate to enable and achieve
Presidential Policy Directive
the scientific, exploration, national
Memorandum: National Strategy for
security, and commercial objectives of
Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion.
Memorandum for: The Vice President; the United States. In the context of this
strategy only, the term ‘‘development’’
The Secretary of State; The Secretary of
includes the full development process
Defense; The Secretary of Commerce;
from design through testing and
The Secretary of Transportation; The
production, and the term ‘‘use’’ includes
Secretary of Energy; The Director of the
launch, operation, and disposition. This
Office of Management and Budget; The
memorandum outlines high-level policy
Assistant to the President for National
goals and a supporting roadmap that
Security Affairs; The Administrator of
will advance the ability of the United
the National Aeronautics and Space
States to use SNPP systems safely,
Administration; The Chairman of the
securely, and sustainably. The
Nuclear Regulatory Commission; The
execution of this strategy will be subject
Director of the Office of Science and
to relevant budgetary and regulatory
Technology Policy.
processes and to the availability of
Section 1. Policy. The ability to use
appropriations.
space nuclear power and propulsion
Section 2. Goals. The United States
(SNPP) systems safely, securely, and
will pursue goals for SNPP development
sustainably is vital to maintaining and
advancing United States dominance and and use that are both mission-enabling
and ambitious in their substance and
strategic leadership in space. SNPP
their timeline. These goals will enable a
systems include radioisotope power
systems (RPSs) and fission reactors used range of existing and future space
missions, with the aim of accelerating
for power or propulsion in spacecraft,
achievement of key milestones,
rovers, and other surface elements.
including in-space demonstration and
SNPP systems can allow operation of
use of new SNPP capabilities. This
such elements in environments in
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM
23DEN1
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
83924
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 23, 2020 / Notices
memorandum establishes the following
such goals for the Nation:
(a) Develop uranium fuel processing
capabilities that enable production of
fuel that is suitable to lunar and
planetary surface and in-space power,
nuclear electric propulsion (NEP), and
nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP)
applications, as needed. These
capabilities should support the ability to
produce different uranium fuel forms to
meet the nearest-term mission needs
and, to the extent feasible, should
maximize commonality—meaning use
of the same or similar materials,
processes, designs, or infrastructure—
across these fuel forms. To maximize
private-sector engagement and cost
savings, these capabilities should be
developed to enable a range of terrestrial
as well as space applications, including
future commercial applications;
(b) Demonstrate a fission power
system on the surface of the Moon that
is scalable to a power range of 40
kilowatt-electric (kWe) and higher to
support a sustained lunar presence and
exploration of Mars. To the extent
feasible, this power system should align
with mission needs for, and potential
future government and commercial
applications of, in-space power, NEP,
and terrestrial nuclear power;
(c) Establish the technical foundations
and capabilities—including through
identification and resolution of the key
technical challenges—that will enable
options for NTP to meet future
Department of Defense (DoD) and
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA) mission
requirements; and
(d) Develop advanced RPS
capabilities that provide higher fuel
efficiency, higher specific energy, and
longer operational lifetime than existing
RPS capabilities, thus enabling
survivable surface elements to support
robotic and human exploration of the
Moon and Mars and extending robotic
exploration of the solar system.
Section. 3. Principles. The United
States will adhere to principles of
safety, security, and sustainability in its
development and use of SNPP systems,
in accordance with all applicable
Federal laws and consistent with
international obligations and
commitments.
(a) Safety. All executive departments
and agencies (agencies) involved in the
development and use of SNPP systems
shall take appropriate measures to
ensure, within their respective roles and
responsibilities, the safe development,
testing, launch, operation, and
disposition of SNPP systems. For United
States Government SNPP programs, the
sponsoring agency holds primary
VerDate Sep<11>2014
21:21 Dec 22, 2020
Jkt 253001
responsibility for safety. For programs
involving multiple agencies, the terms
of cooperation shall designate a lead
agency with primary responsibility for
safety in each stage of development and
use.
(i) Ground development. Activities
associated with ground development,
including ground testing, of SNPP
systems shall be conducted in
accordance with applicable Federal,
State, and local laws and existing
authorities of regulatory agencies.
(ii) Launch. NSPM–20 established
safety guidelines and safety analysis and
review processes for Federal
Government launches of spacecraft
containing space nuclear systems,
including SNPP systems, and for
launches for which the Department of
Transportation has statutory authority to
license as commercial space launch
activities (commercial launches). These
guidelines and processes address launch
and any subsequent stages during which
accidents may result in radiological
effects on the public or the
environment—for instance, in an
unplanned reentry from Earth orbit or
during an Earth flyby. Launch activities
shall be conducted in accordance with
these guidelines and processes.
(iii) Operation and disposition. The
operation and disposition of SNPP
systems shall be planned and conducted
in a manner that protect human and
environmental safety and national
security assets. Fission reactor SNPP
systems may be operated on
interplanetary missions, in sufficiently
high orbits, and in low-Earth orbits if
they are stored in sufficiently high
orbits after the operational part of their
mission. In this context, a sufficiently
high orbit is one in which the orbital
lifetime of the spacecraft is long enough
for the fission products to decay to a
level of radioactivity comparable to that
of uranium-235 by the time it reenters
the Earth’s atmosphere, and the risks to
existing and future space missions and
of collision with objects in space are
minimized. Spacecraft operating fission
reactors in low-Earth orbits shall
incorporate a highly reliable operational
system to ensure effective and
controlled disposition of the reactor.
(b) Security. All agencies involved in
the development and use of SNPP
systems shall take appropriate measures
to protect nuclear and radiological
materials and sensitive information,
consistent with sound nuclear
nonproliferation principles. For United
States Government SNPP programs, the
sponsoring agency holds primary
responsibility for security. For programs
involving multiple agencies, the terms
of cooperation shall designate a lead
PO 00000
Frm 00042
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
agency with primary responsibility for
security in each stage of development
and use. The use of highly enriched
uranium (HEU) in SNPP systems should
be limited to applications for which the
mission would not be viable with other
nuclear fuels or non-nuclear power
sources. Before selecting HEU or, for
fission reactor systems, any nuclear fuel
other than low-enriched uranium (LEU),
for any given SNPP design or mission,
the sponsoring agency shall conduct a
thorough technical review to assess the
viability of alternative nuclear fuels.
The sponsoring agency shall provide to
the respective staffs of the National
Security Council, the National Space
Council, the Office of Science and
Technology Policy, and the Office of
Management and Budget a briefing that
provides justification for why the use of
HEU or other non-LEU fuel is required,
and any steps the agency has taken to
address nuclear safety, security, and
proliferation-related risks. The Director
of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy shall ensure, through the
National Science and Technology
Council, that other relevant agencies are
invited to participate in these briefings.
(c) Sustainability. All agencies
involved in the development and use of
SNPP systems shall take appropriate
measures to conduct these activities in
a manner that is suitable for the longterm sustainment of United States space
capabilities and leadership in SNPP.
(i) Coordination and Collaboration. To
maximize efficiency and return on
taxpayer investment, the heads of
relevant agencies shall seek and pursue
opportunities to coordinate among
existing and future SNPP development
and use programs. Connecting current
efforts with likely future applications
will help ensure that such programs can
contribute to long-term United States
SNPP capabilities and leadership.
Agencies also shall seek opportunities
to partner with the private sector,
including academic institutions, in
order to facilitate contributions to
United States SNPP capabilities and
leadership. To help identify
opportunities for collaboration, the
heads of relevant agencies should
conduct regular technical exchanges
among SNPP programs, to the extent
that such exchanges are consistent with
the principle of security and comply
with applicable Federal, State, and local
laws. Agencies shall coordinate with the
Department of State when seeking
opportunities for international
partnerships.
(ii) Commonality. The heads of
relevant agencies shall seek to identify
and use opportunities for commonality
among SNPP systems, and between
E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM
23DEN1
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 23, 2020 / Notices
SNPP and terrestrial nuclear systems,
whenever doing so could advance
program and policy objectives without
unduly inhibiting innovation or market
development, or hampering system
suitability to specific mission
applications. For example,
opportunities for commonality may
exist in goals (e.g., demonstration
timeline), reactor design, nuclear fuels
(e.g., fuel type and form, and
enrichment level), supplementary
systems (e.g., power conversion,
moderator, reflector, shielding, and
system vessel), methods (e.g., additive
manufacturing of fuel or reactor
elements), and infrastructure (e.g., fuel
supply, testing facilities, launch
facilities, and workforce).
(iii) Cost-effectiveness. The heads of
relevant agencies should pursue SNPP
development and use solutions that are
cost-effective while also consistent with
the principles of safety and security. For
any program or system, the heads of
such agencies should seek to identify
the combination of in-space and groundbased testing and certification that will
best qualify the system for a given
mission while ensuring public safety.
Section. 4. Roles and Responsibilities.
(a) The Vice President, on behalf of the
President and acting through the
National Space Council, shall
coordinate United States policy related
to use of SNPP systems.
(b) The Secretary of State shall, under
the direction of the President,
coordinate United States activities
related to international obligations and
commitments and international
cooperation involving SNPP.
(c) The Secretary of Defense shall
conduct and support activities
associated with development and use of
SNPP systems to enable and achieve
United States national security
objectives. When appropriate, the
Secretary of Defense shall facilitate
private-sector engagement in DoD SNPP
activities.
(d) The Secretary of Commerce shall
promote responsible United States
commercial SNPP investment,
innovation, and use, and shall, when
consistent with the authorities of the
Secretary, ensure the publication of
clear, flexible, performance-based rules
that are applicable to use of SNPP and
are easily navigated. Under the direction
of the Secretary of Commerce, the
Department of Commerce (DOC) shall
ascertain and communicate the views of
private-sector partners and potential
private-sector partners to relevant
agency partners in order to facilitate
public-private collaboration in SNPP
development and use.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
21:21 Dec 22, 2020
Jkt 253001
(e) The Secretary of Transportation’s
statutory authority includes licensing
commercial launches and reentries,
including vehicles containing SNPP
systems. Within this capacity, the
Secretary of Transportation shall, when
appropriate, facilitate private-sector
engagement in the launch or reentry
aspect of SNPP development and use
activities, in support of United States
science, exploration, national security,
and commercial objectives. To help
ensure the launch safety of an SNPP
payload, and consistent with 51 U.S.C.
50904, a payload review may be
conducted as part of a license
application review or may be requested
by a payload owner or operator in
advance of or apart from a license
application.
(f) The Secretary of Energy shall, in
coordination with sponsoring agencies
and other agencies, as appropriate,
support development and use of SNPP
systems to enable and achieve United
States scientific, exploration, and
national security objectives. When
appropriate, the Secretary of Energy
shall work with sponsoring agencies
and DOC to facilitate United States
private-sector engagement in
Department of Energy (DOE) SNPP
activities. Under the direction of the
Secretary of Energy and consistent with
the authorities granted to DOE,
including authorities under the Atomic
Energy Act of 1954 (AEA), as amended,
42 U.S.C. 2011, et seq., DOE may
authorize ground-based SNPP
development activities, including DOE
activities conducted in coordination
with sponsoring agencies and privatesector entities. As directed in NSPM–20,
the Secretary of Energy shall maintain,
on a full-cost recovery basis, the
capability and infrastructure to develop,
furnish, and conduct safety analyses for
space nuclear systems for use in United
States Government space systems.
(g) The Administrator of NASA shall
conduct and support activities
associated with development and use of
SNPP systems to enable and achieve
United States space science and
exploration objectives. The
Administrator of NASA shall establish
the performance requirements for SNPP
capabilities necessary to achieve those
objectives. When appropriate, the
Administrator of NASA shall facilitate
private-sector engagement in NASA
SNPP activities, and shall coordinate
with the Secretary of Commerce and, as
appropriate, the Secretary of State and
the Secretary of Energy, to help facilitate
private-sector SNPP activities.
(h) The Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) has statutory
authority under the AEA for licensing
PO 00000
Frm 00043
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
83925
and regulatory safety and security
oversight of commercial nuclear
activities taking place within the United
States. The NRC should, as appropriate
and particularly in circumstances
within NRC authority where DOE
regulatory authorities cannot be applied,
enable private-sector engagement in
SNPP development and use activities in
support of United States science,
exploration, national security, and
commercial objectives.
(i) The Director of the Office and
Science and Technology Policy shall
coordinate United States policy related
to research and development of SNPP
systems.
Section. 5. Roadmap. The United
States will pursue a coordinated
roadmap for federally-supported SNPP
activities to achieve the goals and
uphold the principles established in this
memorandum. This roadmap comprises
the following elements, which the
relevant agencies should pursue
consistent with the following objective
timeline, subject to relevant budgetary
and regulatory processes and to the
availability of appropriations:
(a) By the mid-2020s, develop
uranium fuel processing capabilities
that enable production of fuel that is
suitable for lunar and planetary surface
and in-space power, NEP, and NTP
applications, as needed.
(i) Identify relevant mission needs.
DoD and NASA should provide to DOE
any mission needs (e.g., power density,
environment, and timelines) relevant to
the identification of fuels suitable for
planetary surface and in-space power,
NEP, and NTP applications.
(ii) Identify candidate fuel or fuels.
DoD and NASA, in cooperation with
DOE and private-sector partners, as
appropriate, should identify candidate
fuel or fuels to meet the identified
mission requirements. This review and
assessment should account for current
and expected United States capabilities
to produce and qualify for use candidate
fuels, and for potential commonality of
fuels or fuel variants across multiple
planetary surface and in-space power,
in-space propulsion, and terrestrial
applications.
(iii) Qualify at least one candidate
fuel. DoD and NASA, in cooperation
with DOE and private-sector partners, as
appropriate, should qualify a fuel or
fuels for demonstrations of a planetary
surface power reactor and an in-space
propulsion system. While seeking
opportunities to use private-sectorpartner capabilities, agencies should
ensure that the Federal Government
retains an ability for screening and
qualification of candidate fuels.
E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM
23DEN1
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
83926
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 23, 2020 / Notices
(iv) Supply fuel for demonstrations.
DOE, in cooperation with NASA and
DoD, and with private-sector partners,
as appropriate, should identify
feedstock and uranium that can be made
available for planetary surface power
and in-space propulsion
demonstrations. DOE shall ensure that
any provision of nuclear material for
SNPP will not disrupt enriched uranium
supplies for the United States nuclear
weapons program and the naval
propulsion program, and that SNPP
needs are included among broader
considerations of nuclear fuel supply
provisioning and management.
(b) By the mid- to late-2020s,
demonstrate a fission power system on
the surface of the Moon that is scalable
to a power range of 40 kWe and higher
to support sustained lunar presence and
exploration of Mars.
(i) Initiate a surface power project.
NASA should initiate a fission surface
power project for lunar surface
demonstration by 2027, with scalability
to Mars exploration. NASA should
consult with DoD and other agencies,
and with the private sector, as
appropriate, when developing project
requirements.
(ii) Conduct technology and
requirements assessment. NASA, in
coordination with DoD and other
agencies, and with private-sector
partners, as appropriate, should
evaluate technology options for a
surface power system including reactor
designs, power conversion, shielding,
and thermal management. NASA should
work with other agencies, and privatesector partners, as appropriate, to
evaluate opportunities for commonality
among other SNPP needs, including inspace power and terrestrial power
needs, possible NEP technology needs,
and reactor demonstrations planned by
NASA, other agencies, or the private
sector.
(iii) Engage the private sector. DOE
and NASA should determine a
mechanism or mechanisms for engaging
with the private sector to meet NASA’s
SNPP surface power needs in an
effective manner consistent with the
guiding principles set forth in this
memorandum. In evaluating
mechanisms, DOE and NASA should
consider the possibility of NASA
issuing a request for proposal for the
development and construction of the
surface power reactor system or
demonstration.
(iv) System development. NASA
should work with DOE, and with other
agencies and private-sector partners, as
appropriate, to develop the lunar
surface power demonstration project.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
21:21 Dec 22, 2020
Jkt 253001
(v) Conduct demonstration mission.
NASA, in coordination with other
agencies and with private-sector
partners, as appropriate, should launch
and conduct the lunar surface power
demonstration project.
(c) By the late-2020s, establish the
technical foundations and capabilities—
including through identification and
resolution of the key technical
challenges—that will enable NTP
options to meet future DoD and NASA
mission needs.
(i) Conduct requirements assessment.
DoD and NASA, in cooperation with
DOE, and with other agencies and
private-sector partners, as appropriate,
should assess the ability of NTP
capabilities to enable and advance
existing and potential future DoD and
NASA mission requirements.
(ii) Conduct technology assessment.
DoD and NASA, in cooperation with
DOE, and with other agencies and
private-sector partners, as appropriate,
should evaluate technology options and
associated key technical challenges for
an NTP system, including reactor
designs, power conversion, and thermal
management. DoD and NASA should
work with their partners to evaluate and
use opportunities for commonality with
other SNPP needs, terrestrial power
needs, and reactor demonstration
projects planned by agencies and the
private sector.
(iii) Technology development. DoD, in
coordination with DOE and other
agencies, and with private-sector
partners, as appropriate, should develop
reactor and propulsion system
technologies that will resolve the key
technical challenges in areas such as
reactor design and production,
propulsion system and spacecraft
design, and SNPP system integration.
(d) By 2030, develop advanced RPS
capabilities that provide higher fuel
efficiency, higher specific energy, and
longer operational lifetime than existing
RPS capabilities, thus enabling
survivable surface elements to support
robotic and human exploration of the
Moon and Mars and extending robotic
exploration of the solar system.
(i) Maintain RPS capability. Mission
sponsoring agencies should assess their
needs for radioisotope heat source
material to meet emerging mission
requirements, and should work with
DOE to jointly identify the means to
produce or acquire the necessary
material on a timeline that meets
mission requirements.
(ii) Engage the private sector. NASA,
in coordination with DOE and DOC,
should conduct an assessment of
opportunities for engaging the private
sector to meet RPS needs in an effective
PO 00000
Frm 00044
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
manner consistent with the guiding
principles established in this
memorandum.
(iii) Conduct technology and
requirements assessment. NASA, in
coordination with DOE and DoD, and
with other agencies and private-sector
partners, as appropriate, should assess
requirements for next-generation RPS
systems and evaluate technology
options for meeting those requirements.
(iv) System development. DOE, in
coordination with NASA and DoD, and
with other agencies and private-sector
partners, as appropriate, should develop
one or more next-generation RPS system
or systems to meet the goals of higher
fuel efficiency, higher specific energy,
and longer operational lifetime for the
required range of power.
Section. 6. Implementation. The Vice
President, through the National Space
Council, shall coordinate
implementation of this memorandum.
Section. 7. General Provisions. (a)
Nothing in this memorandum shall be
construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an
executive department or agency, or the
head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the
Office of Management and Budget
relating to budgetary, administrative, or
legislative proposals.
(b) This memorandum shall be
implemented consistent with applicable
law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
(c) This memorandum is not intended
to, and does not, create any right or
benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any
party against the United States, its
departments, agencies, or entities, its
officers, employees, or agents, or any
other person.
(d) The Secretary of Energy is
authorized and directed to publish this
memorandum in the Federal Register.
Dated: December 16, 2020.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of
Energy was signed on December 18,
2020, by Dr. Rita Baranwal, Assistant
Secretary for Nuclear Energy,
Department of Energy, pursuant to
delegated authority from the Secretary
of Energy. That document with the
original signature and date is
maintained by DOE. For administrative
purposes only, and in compliance with
requirements of the Office of the Federal
Register, the undersigned DOE Federal
Register Liaison Officer has been
authorized to sign and submit the
document in electronic format for
publication, as an official document of
the Department of Energy. This
E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM
23DEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 247 / Wednesday, December 23, 2020 / Notices
administrative process in no way alters
the legal effect of this document upon
publication in the Federal Register.
Signed in Washington, DC, on December
18, 2020.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S.
Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2020–28457 Filed 12–22–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Case Number 2020–009; EERE–2020–BT–
WAV–0025]
Energy Conservation Program: Notice
of Petition for Waiver of Heat Transfer
Products Group From the Department
of Energy Walk-In Coolers and Walk-In
Freezers Test Procedure and Notice of
Grant of Interim Waiver
Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notification of petition for
waiver and grant of an interim waiver;
request for comments.
jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This document announces
receipt of and publishes a petition for
waiver and interim waiver from Heat
Transfer Products Group (‘‘HTPG’’),
which seeks a waiver for specified
carbon dioxide (‘‘CO2’’) direct
expansion unit cooler basic models from
the U.S. Department of Energy (‘‘DOE’’)
test procedure used to determine the
efficiency of walk-in cooler and walk-in
freezer refrigeration systems. DOE also
gives notice of an Interim Waiver Order
that requires HTPG to test and rate the
specified CO2 direct expansion unit
cooler basic models in accordance with
the alternate test procedure set forth in
the Interim Waiver Order. DOE solicits
comments, data, and information
concerning HTPG’s petition and its
suggested alternate test procedure so as
to inform DOE’s final decision on
HTPG’s waiver request.
DATES: The Interim Waiver Order is
effective on December 23, 2020. Written
comments and information will be
accepted on or before January 22, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
encouraged to submit comments using
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
https://www.regulations.gov.
Alternatively, interested persons may
submit comments, identified by case
number ‘‘2020–009’’, and Docket
number ‘‘EERE–2020–BT–WAV–0025,’’
by any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
21:21 Dec 22, 2020
Jkt 253001
• Email: HTPG2020WAV0025@
ee.doe.gov. Include Case No. 2020–009
in the subject line of the message.
• Postal Mail: Appliance and
Equipment Standards Program, U.S.
Department of Energy, Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy,
Building Technologies Office, Mail Stop
EE–5B, Petition for Waiver Case No.
2020–009, 1000 Independence Avenue
SW, Washington, DC 20585–0121. If
possible, please submit all items on a
compact disc (‘‘CD’’), in which case it is
not necessary to include printed copies.
• Hand Delivery/Courier: Appliance
and Equipment Standards Program, U.S.
Department of Energy, Building
Technologies Office, 950 L’Enfant Plaza
SW, 6th floor, Washington, DC 20024.
Telephone: (202) 287–1445. If possible,
please submit all items on a CD, in
which case it is not necessary to include
printed copies.
No telefacsimilies (‘‘faxes’’) will be
accepted. For detailed instructions on
submitting comments and additional
information on this process, see the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
this document.
Docket: The docket, which includes
Federal Register notices, comments,
and other supporting documents/
materials, is available for review at
https://www.regulations.gov. All
documents in the docket are listed in
the https://www.regulations.gov index.
However, some documents listed in the
index, such as those containing
information that is exempt from public
disclosure, may not be publicly
available.
The docket web page can be found at
https://www.regulations.gov/
docket?D=EERE-2020-BT-WAV-0025.
The docket web page contains
instruction on how to access all
documents, including public comments,
in the docket. See the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section for information on
how to submit comments through
https://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Lucy deButts, U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Building
Technologies Office, Mail Stop EE–5B,
1000 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20585–0121. Email:
AS_Waiver_Request@ee.doe.gov.
Michael Kido, U.S. Department of
Energy, Office of the General Counsel,
Mail Stop GC–33, Forrestal Building,
1000 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20585–0103.
Telephone: (202) 586–8145. Email:
Michael.Kido@hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOE is
publishing HTPG’s petition for waiver
PO 00000
Frm 00045
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
83927
in its entirety, pursuant to 10 CFR
431.401(b)(1)(iv).1 DOE invites all
interested parties to submit in writing
by January 22, 2021, comments and
information on all aspects of the
petition, including the alternate test
procedure. Pursuant to 10 CFR
431.401(d), any person submitting
written comments to DOE must also
send a copy of such comments to the
petitioner. The contact information for
the petitioner is Michael Straub,
mike.straub@htpg.com, 201 Thomas
French Dr., Scottsboro, AL 35769–7405.
Submitting comments via https://
www.regulations.gov. The https://
www.regulations.gov web page will
require you to provide your name and
contact information. Your contact
information will be viewable to DOE
Building Technologies staff only. Your
contact information will not be publicly
viewable except for your first and last
names, organization name (if any), and
submitter representative name (if any).
If your comment is not processed
properly because of technical
difficulties, DOE will use this
information to contact you. If DOE
cannot read your comment due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact
you for clarification, DOE may not be
able to consider your comment.
However, your contact information
will be publicly viewable if you include
it in the comment or in any documents
attached to your comment. Any
information that you do not want to be
publicly viewable should not be
included in your comment, nor in any
document attached to your comment. If
this instruction is followed, persons
viewing comments will see only first
and last names, organization names,
correspondence containing comments,
and any documents submitted with the
comments.
Do not submit to https://
www.regulations.gov information for
which disclosure is restricted by statute,
such as trade secrets and commercial or
financial information (hereinafter
referred to as Confidential Business
Information (‘‘CBI’’)). Comments
submitted through https://
www.regulations.gov cannot be claimed
as CBI. Comments received through the
website will waive any CBI claims for
the information submitted. For
information on submitting CBI, see the
Confidential Business Information
section.
DOE processes submissions made
through https://www.regulations.gov
before posting. Normally, comments
1 The petition did not identify any of the
information contained therein as confidential
business information.
E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM
23DEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 83923-83927]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-28457]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Posting of the Presidential Policy Directive 6 (Space Policy),
``National Strategy for Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion''
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Presidential Policy Directive 6 (Space Policy) directs
implementation of the National Strategy for Space Nuclear Power and
Propulsion. The Secretary is authorized and directed to publish the
Memorandum in the Federal Register.
DATES: Presidential Policy Directive 6 was signed on December 16, 2020.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about this
Notice, please contact Ms. Tracey Bishop, Deputy Assistant Secretary
for Nuclear Infrastructure Programs, U.S. Department of Energy, 19901
Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874; phone: 301-903-5543; email to:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Presidential Policy Directive Memorandum:
National Strategy for Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion.
Memorandum for: The Vice President; The Secretary of State; The
Secretary of Defense; The Secretary of Commerce; The Secretary of
Transportation; The Secretary of Energy; The Director of the Office of
Management and Budget; The Assistant to the President for National
Security Affairs; The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration; The Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory
Commission; The Director of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy.
Section 1. Policy. The ability to use space nuclear power and
propulsion (SNPP) systems safely, securely, and sustainably is vital to
maintaining and advancing United States dominance and strategic
leadership in space. SNPP systems include radioisotope power systems
(RPSs) and fission reactors used for power or propulsion in spacecraft,
rovers, and other surface elements. SNPP systems can allow operation of
such elements in environments in which solar and chemical power are
inadequate. They can produce more power at lower mass and volume
compared to other energy sources, thereby enabling persistent presence
and operations. SNPP systems also can shorten transit times for crewed
and robotic spacecraft, thereby reducing radiation exposure in harsh
space environments.
National Security Presidential Memorandum-20 (NSPM-20) of August
20, 2019 (Launch of Spacecraft Containing Space Nuclear Systems),
updated the process for launches of spacecraft containing space nuclear
systems. It established it as the policy of the United States to
''develop and use space nuclear systems when such systems safely enable
or enhance space exploration or operational capabilities.''
Cooperation with commercial and international partners is critical
to achieving America's objectives for space exploration. Presidential
Policy Directive 4 of June 28, 2010 (National Space Policy), as amended
by the Presidential Memorandum of December 11, 2017 (Reinvigorating
America's Human Space Exploration Program), established it as the
policy of the United States to ``[l]ead an innovative and sustainable
program of exploration with commercial and international partners to
enable human expansion across the solar system and to bring back to
Earth new knowledge and opportunities.''
This memorandum establishes a national strategy to ensure the
development and use of SNPP systems when appropriate to enable and
achieve the scientific, exploration, national security, and commercial
objectives of the United States. In the context of this strategy only,
the term ``development'' includes the full development process from
design through testing and production, and the term ``use'' includes
launch, operation, and disposition. This memorandum outlines high-level
policy goals and a supporting roadmap that will advance the ability of
the United States to use SNPP systems safely, securely, and
sustainably. The execution of this strategy will be subject to relevant
budgetary and regulatory processes and to the availability of
appropriations.
Section 2. Goals. The United States will pursue goals for SNPP
development and use that are both mission-enabling and ambitious in
their substance and their timeline. These goals will enable a range of
existing and future space missions, with the aim of accelerating
achievement of key milestones, including in-space demonstration and use
of new SNPP capabilities. This
[[Page 83924]]
memorandum establishes the following such goals for the Nation:
(a) Develop uranium fuel processing capabilities that enable
production of fuel that is suitable to lunar and planetary surface and
in-space power, nuclear electric propulsion (NEP), and nuclear thermal
propulsion (NTP) applications, as needed. These capabilities should
support the ability to produce different uranium fuel forms to meet the
nearest-term mission needs and, to the extent feasible, should maximize
commonality--meaning use of the same or similar materials, processes,
designs, or infrastructure--across these fuel forms. To maximize
private-sector engagement and cost savings, these capabilities should
be developed to enable a range of terrestrial as well as space
applications, including future commercial applications;
(b) Demonstrate a fission power system on the surface of the Moon
that is scalable to a power range of 40 kilowatt-electric (kWe) and
higher to support a sustained lunar presence and exploration of Mars.
To the extent feasible, this power system should align with mission
needs for, and potential future government and commercial applications
of, in-space power, NEP, and terrestrial nuclear power;
(c) Establish the technical foundations and capabilities--including
through identification and resolution of the key technical challenges--
that will enable options for NTP to meet future Department of Defense
(DoD) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) mission
requirements; and
(d) Develop advanced RPS capabilities that provide higher fuel
efficiency, higher specific energy, and longer operational lifetime
than existing RPS capabilities, thus enabling survivable surface
elements to support robotic and human exploration of the Moon and Mars
and extending robotic exploration of the solar system.
Section. 3. Principles. The United States will adhere to principles
of safety, security, and sustainability in its development and use of
SNPP systems, in accordance with all applicable Federal laws and
consistent with international obligations and commitments.
(a) Safety. All executive departments and agencies (agencies)
involved in the development and use of SNPP systems shall take
appropriate measures to ensure, within their respective roles and
responsibilities, the safe development, testing, launch, operation, and
disposition of SNPP systems. For United States Government SNPP
programs, the sponsoring agency holds primary responsibility for
safety. For programs involving multiple agencies, the terms of
cooperation shall designate a lead agency with primary responsibility
for safety in each stage of development and use.
(i) Ground development. Activities associated with ground
development, including ground testing, of SNPP systems shall be
conducted in accordance with applicable Federal, State, and local laws
and existing authorities of regulatory agencies.
(ii) Launch. NSPM-20 established safety guidelines and safety
analysis and review processes for Federal Government launches of
spacecraft containing space nuclear systems, including SNPP systems,
and for launches for which the Department of Transportation has
statutory authority to license as commercial space launch activities
(commercial launches). These guidelines and processes address launch
and any subsequent stages during which accidents may result in
radiological effects on the public or the environment--for instance, in
an unplanned reentry from Earth orbit or during an Earth flyby. Launch
activities shall be conducted in accordance with these guidelines and
processes.
(iii) Operation and disposition. The operation and disposition of
SNPP systems shall be planned and conducted in a manner that protect
human and environmental safety and national security assets. Fission
reactor SNPP systems may be operated on interplanetary missions, in
sufficiently high orbits, and in low-Earth orbits if they are stored in
sufficiently high orbits after the operational part of their mission.
In this context, a sufficiently high orbit is one in which the orbital
lifetime of the spacecraft is long enough for the fission products to
decay to a level of radioactivity comparable to that of uranium-235 by
the time it reenters the Earth's atmosphere, and the risks to existing
and future space missions and of collision with objects in space are
minimized. Spacecraft operating fission reactors in low-Earth orbits
shall incorporate a highly reliable operational system to ensure
effective and controlled disposition of the reactor.
(b) Security. All agencies involved in the development and use of
SNPP systems shall take appropriate measures to protect nuclear and
radiological materials and sensitive information, consistent with sound
nuclear nonproliferation principles. For United States Government SNPP
programs, the sponsoring agency holds primary responsibility for
security. For programs involving multiple agencies, the terms of
cooperation shall designate a lead agency with primary responsibility
for security in each stage of development and use. The use of highly
enriched uranium (HEU) in SNPP systems should be limited to
applications for which the mission would not be viable with other
nuclear fuels or non-nuclear power sources. Before selecting HEU or,
for fission reactor systems, any nuclear fuel other than low-enriched
uranium (LEU), for any given SNPP design or mission, the sponsoring
agency shall conduct a thorough technical review to assess the
viability of alternative nuclear fuels. The sponsoring agency shall
provide to the respective staffs of the National Security Council, the
National Space Council, the Office of Science and Technology Policy,
and the Office of Management and Budget a briefing that provides
justification for why the use of HEU or other non-LEU fuel is required,
and any steps the agency has taken to address nuclear safety, security,
and proliferation-related risks. The Director of the Office of Science
and Technology Policy shall ensure, through the National Science and
Technology Council, that other relevant agencies are invited to
participate in these briefings.
(c) Sustainability. All agencies involved in the development and
use of SNPP systems shall take appropriate measures to conduct these
activities in a manner that is suitable for the long-term sustainment
of United States space capabilities and leadership in SNPP.
(i) Coordination and Collaboration. To maximize efficiency and
return on taxpayer investment, the heads of relevant agencies shall
seek and pursue opportunities to coordinate among existing and future
SNPP development and use programs. Connecting current efforts with
likely future applications will help ensure that such programs can
contribute to long-term United States SNPP capabilities and leadership.
Agencies also shall seek opportunities to partner with the private
sector, including academic institutions, in order to facilitate
contributions to United States SNPP capabilities and leadership. To
help identify opportunities for collaboration, the heads of relevant
agencies should conduct regular technical exchanges among SNPP
programs, to the extent that such exchanges are consistent with the
principle of security and comply with applicable Federal, State, and
local laws. Agencies shall coordinate with the Department of State when
seeking opportunities for international partnerships.
(ii) Commonality. The heads of relevant agencies shall seek to
identify and use opportunities for commonality among SNPP systems, and
between
[[Page 83925]]
SNPP and terrestrial nuclear systems, whenever doing so could advance
program and policy objectives without unduly inhibiting innovation or
market development, or hampering system suitability to specific mission
applications. For example, opportunities for commonality may exist in
goals (e.g., demonstration timeline), reactor design, nuclear fuels
(e.g., fuel type and form, and enrichment level), supplementary systems
(e.g., power conversion, moderator, reflector, shielding, and system
vessel), methods (e.g., additive manufacturing of fuel or reactor
elements), and infrastructure (e.g., fuel supply, testing facilities,
launch facilities, and workforce).
(iii) Cost-effectiveness. The heads of relevant agencies should
pursue SNPP development and use solutions that are cost-effective while
also consistent with the principles of safety and security. For any
program or system, the heads of such agencies should seek to identify
the combination of in-space and ground-based testing and certification
that will best qualify the system for a given mission while ensuring
public safety.
Section. 4. Roles and Responsibilities. (a) The Vice President, on
behalf of the President and acting through the National Space Council,
shall coordinate United States policy related to use of SNPP systems.
(b) The Secretary of State shall, under the direction of the
President, coordinate United States activities related to international
obligations and commitments and international cooperation involving
SNPP.
(c) The Secretary of Defense shall conduct and support activities
associated with development and use of SNPP systems to enable and
achieve United States national security objectives. When appropriate,
the Secretary of Defense shall facilitate private-sector engagement in
DoD SNPP activities.
(d) The Secretary of Commerce shall promote responsible United
States commercial SNPP investment, innovation, and use, and shall, when
consistent with the authorities of the Secretary, ensure the
publication of clear, flexible, performance-based rules that are
applicable to use of SNPP and are easily navigated. Under the direction
of the Secretary of Commerce, the Department of Commerce (DOC) shall
ascertain and communicate the views of private-sector partners and
potential private-sector partners to relevant agency partners in order
to facilitate public-private collaboration in SNPP development and use.
(e) The Secretary of Transportation's statutory authority includes
licensing commercial launches and reentries, including vehicles
containing SNPP systems. Within this capacity, the Secretary of
Transportation shall, when appropriate, facilitate private-sector
engagement in the launch or reentry aspect of SNPP development and use
activities, in support of United States science, exploration, national
security, and commercial objectives. To help ensure the launch safety
of an SNPP payload, and consistent with 51 U.S.C. 50904, a payload
review may be conducted as part of a license application review or may
be requested by a payload owner or operator in advance of or apart from
a license application.
(f) The Secretary of Energy shall, in coordination with sponsoring
agencies and other agencies, as appropriate, support development and
use of SNPP systems to enable and achieve United States scientific,
exploration, and national security objectives. When appropriate, the
Secretary of Energy shall work with sponsoring agencies and DOC to
facilitate United States private-sector engagement in Department of
Energy (DOE) SNPP activities. Under the direction of the Secretary of
Energy and consistent with the authorities granted to DOE, including
authorities under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (AEA), as amended, 42
U.S.C. 2011, et seq., DOE may authorize ground-based SNPP development
activities, including DOE activities conducted in coordination with
sponsoring agencies and private-sector entities. As directed in NSPM-
20, the Secretary of Energy shall maintain, on a full-cost recovery
basis, the capability and infrastructure to develop, furnish, and
conduct safety analyses for space nuclear systems for use in United
States Government space systems.
(g) The Administrator of NASA shall conduct and support activities
associated with development and use of SNPP systems to enable and
achieve United States space science and exploration objectives. The
Administrator of NASA shall establish the performance requirements for
SNPP capabilities necessary to achieve those objectives. When
appropriate, the Administrator of NASA shall facilitate private-sector
engagement in NASA SNPP activities, and shall coordinate with the
Secretary of Commerce and, as appropriate, the Secretary of State and
the Secretary of Energy, to help facilitate private-sector SNPP
activities.
(h) The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has statutory authority
under the AEA for licensing and regulatory safety and security
oversight of commercial nuclear activities taking place within the
United States. The NRC should, as appropriate and particularly in
circumstances within NRC authority where DOE regulatory authorities
cannot be applied, enable private-sector engagement in SNPP development
and use activities in support of United States science, exploration,
national security, and commercial objectives.
(i) The Director of the Office and Science and Technology Policy
shall coordinate United States policy related to research and
development of SNPP systems.
Section. 5. Roadmap. The United States will pursue a coordinated
roadmap for federally-supported SNPP activities to achieve the goals
and uphold the principles established in this memorandum. This roadmap
comprises the following elements, which the relevant agencies should
pursue consistent with the following objective timeline, subject to
relevant budgetary and regulatory processes and to the availability of
appropriations:
(a) By the mid-2020s, develop uranium fuel processing capabilities
that enable production of fuel that is suitable for lunar and planetary
surface and in-space power, NEP, and NTP applications, as needed.
(i) Identify relevant mission needs. DoD and NASA should provide to
DOE any mission needs (e.g., power density, environment, and timelines)
relevant to the identification of fuels suitable for planetary surface
and in-space power, NEP, and NTP applications.
(ii) Identify candidate fuel or fuels. DoD and NASA, in cooperation
with DOE and private-sector partners, as appropriate, should identify
candidate fuel or fuels to meet the identified mission requirements.
This review and assessment should account for current and expected
United States capabilities to produce and qualify for use candidate
fuels, and for potential commonality of fuels or fuel variants across
multiple planetary surface and in-space power, in-space propulsion, and
terrestrial applications.
(iii) Qualify at least one candidate fuel. DoD and NASA, in
cooperation with DOE and private-sector partners, as appropriate,
should qualify a fuel or fuels for demonstrations of a planetary
surface power reactor and an in-space propulsion system. While seeking
opportunities to use private-sector-partner capabilities, agencies
should ensure that the Federal Government retains an ability for
screening and qualification of candidate fuels.
[[Page 83926]]
(iv) Supply fuel for demonstrations. DOE, in cooperation with NASA
and DoD, and with private-sector partners, as appropriate, should
identify feedstock and uranium that can be made available for planetary
surface power and in-space propulsion demonstrations. DOE shall ensure
that any provision of nuclear material for SNPP will not disrupt
enriched uranium supplies for the United States nuclear weapons program
and the naval propulsion program, and that SNPP needs are included
among broader considerations of nuclear fuel supply provisioning and
management.
(b) By the mid- to late-2020s, demonstrate a fission power system
on the surface of the Moon that is scalable to a power range of 40 kWe
and higher to support sustained lunar presence and exploration of Mars.
(i) Initiate a surface power project. NASA should initiate a
fission surface power project for lunar surface demonstration by 2027,
with scalability to Mars exploration. NASA should consult with DoD and
other agencies, and with the private sector, as appropriate, when
developing project requirements.
(ii) Conduct technology and requirements assessment. NASA, in
coordination with DoD and other agencies, and with private-sector
partners, as appropriate, should evaluate technology options for a
surface power system including reactor designs, power conversion,
shielding, and thermal management. NASA should work with other
agencies, and private-sector partners, as appropriate, to evaluate
opportunities for commonality among other SNPP needs, including in-
space power and terrestrial power needs, possible NEP technology needs,
and reactor demonstrations planned by NASA, other agencies, or the
private sector.
(iii) Engage the private sector. DOE and NASA should determine a
mechanism or mechanisms for engaging with the private sector to meet
NASA's SNPP surface power needs in an effective manner consistent with
the guiding principles set forth in this memorandum. In evaluating
mechanisms, DOE and NASA should consider the possibility of NASA
issuing a request for proposal for the development and construction of
the surface power reactor system or demonstration.
(iv) System development. NASA should work with DOE, and with other
agencies and private-sector partners, as appropriate, to develop the
lunar surface power demonstration project.
(v) Conduct demonstration mission. NASA, in coordination with other
agencies and with private-sector partners, as appropriate, should
launch and conduct the lunar surface power demonstration project.
(c) By the late-2020s, establish the technical foundations and
capabilities--including through identification and resolution of the
key technical challenges--that will enable NTP options to meet future
DoD and NASA mission needs.
(i) Conduct requirements assessment. DoD and NASA, in cooperation
with DOE, and with other agencies and private-sector partners, as
appropriate, should assess the ability of NTP capabilities to enable
and advance existing and potential future DoD and NASA mission
requirements.
(ii) Conduct technology assessment. DoD and NASA, in cooperation
with DOE, and with other agencies and private-sector partners, as
appropriate, should evaluate technology options and associated key
technical challenges for an NTP system, including reactor designs,
power conversion, and thermal management. DoD and NASA should work with
their partners to evaluate and use opportunities for commonality with
other SNPP needs, terrestrial power needs, and reactor demonstration
projects planned by agencies and the private sector.
(iii) Technology development. DoD, in coordination with DOE and
other agencies, and with private-sector partners, as appropriate,
should develop reactor and propulsion system technologies that will
resolve the key technical challenges in areas such as reactor design
and production, propulsion system and spacecraft design, and SNPP
system integration.
(d) By 2030, develop advanced RPS capabilities that provide higher
fuel efficiency, higher specific energy, and longer operational
lifetime than existing RPS capabilities, thus enabling survivable
surface elements to support robotic and human exploration of the Moon
and Mars and extending robotic exploration of the solar system.
(i) Maintain RPS capability. Mission sponsoring agencies should
assess their needs for radioisotope heat source material to meet
emerging mission requirements, and should work with DOE to jointly
identify the means to produce or acquire the necessary material on a
timeline that meets mission requirements.
(ii) Engage the private sector. NASA, in coordination with DOE and
DOC, should conduct an assessment of opportunities for engaging the
private sector to meet RPS needs in an effective manner consistent with
the guiding principles established in this memorandum.
(iii) Conduct technology and requirements assessment. NASA, in
coordination with DOE and DoD, and with other agencies and private-
sector partners, as appropriate, should assess requirements for next-
generation RPS systems and evaluate technology options for meeting
those requirements.
(iv) System development. DOE, in coordination with NASA and DoD,
and with other agencies and private-sector partners, as appropriate,
should develop one or more next-generation RPS system or systems to
meet the goals of higher fuel efficiency, higher specific energy, and
longer operational lifetime for the required range of power.
Section. 6. Implementation. The Vice President, through the
National Space Council, shall coordinate implementation of this
memorandum.
Section. 7. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this memorandum
shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or
agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and
Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable
law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any
right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in
equity by any party against the United States, its departments,
agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other
person.
(d) The Secretary of Energy is authorized and directed to publish
this memorandum in the Federal Register.
Dated: December 16, 2020.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of Energy was signed on December
18, 2020, by Dr. Rita Baranwal, Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy,
Department of Energy, pursuant to delegated authority from the
Secretary of Energy. That document with the original signature and date
is maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in
compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the
undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to
sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as
an official document of the Department of Energy. This
[[Page 83927]]
administrative process in no way alters the legal effect of this
document upon publication in the Federal Register.
Signed in Washington, DC, on December 18, 2020.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2020-28457 Filed 12-22-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P