Department of Energy Commercial Application of Energy Technology Authorization Act of 1999

Summary

Department of Energy Commercial Application of Energy Technology Authorization Act of 1999 - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Energy for FY 2000 and 2001 for commercial application of energy technology and energy research, development, and demonstration programs related to: (1) energy supply; (2) non-defense environmental management; (3) fossil energy; and (4) energy conservation. (Sec. 4) Requires notice to specified congressional committees before any major reorganization of any Department of Energy (DOE) civilian energy or scientific research, development, or demonstration or commercial application of energy technology program. (Sec. 5) Permits DOE to provide funding, with respect to programs and activities described by this Act, only for technologies or processes that are substantially new and not for incremental improvements to those that exist in the marketplace. (Sec. 6) Sets forth specified requirements for projects that exceed certain cost limits, including construction projects and those relating to conceptual or construction design. (Sec. 9) Prohibits the use of funds in the Clean Coal Technology Reserve to initiate or carry out a clean coal technology energy demonstration project based outside the United States. Bars the use of funds authorized by this Act for grants or contracts awarded by DOE to a trade association on a noncompetitive basis. (Sec. 10) Prohibits the use of funds authorized to be appropriated by this or any prior Act to award management and operating contracts for federally owned or operated nonmilitary DOE energy laboratories on a noncompetitive basis or to award or modify a DOE contract in a manner that deviates from the Federal Acquisition Regulation unless the Secretary grants a waiver to allow for such deviations. (Sec. 12) Prohibits the use of funds authorized to be appropriated by this or any prior Act by: (1) DOE to prepare or initiate Requests for Proposals for programs under this Act not specifically authorized by Congress; and (2) programs under this Act to produce or provide articles or services for purposes of selling them to a person outside the Federal Government unless the Secretary determines that such articles or services are not available from a U.S. commercial source. Exempts from the prohibition on the sale of articles or services the transmission and sale of electricity by any Federal power marketing administration. (Sec. 14) Excludes from consideration for grant agreements for programs described by this Act made by DOE after FY 1999 any person who received funds appropriated for a fiscal year after FY 1999 under a grant agreement from any Federal funding source for a program that was not subjected to a competitive, merit-based award process. Makes such exclusions effective for a period of five years after the person receives such Federal funds. (Sec. 15) Terminates DOE regulatory or enforcement authority, effective January 1, 2000, with respect to Federal, State, and local environmental, safety, and health requirements at any federally owned or operated nonmilitary energy laboratory. Requires DOE to retain such authority at any such laboratory to the extent that no other agency has such authority. Directs the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), effective January 1, 2000, to assume DOE regulatory and enforcement authorities under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 with regard to federally owned or operated nonmilitary energy laboratories. Provides that contractors operating such facilities shall not be responsible for the costs of decommissioning such facilities. Prohibits enforcement actions from being taken against such contractors for violations of NRC decommissioning requirements if the violation is the result of a DOE failure to authorize or fund decommissioning activities. Requires the NRC and DOE to enter into a memorandum of understanding establishing decommissioning requirements for such laboratories. Directs the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), effective January 1, 2000, to assume DOE regulatory and enforcement responsibilities relating to matters covered by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 with regard to all federally owned or operated nonmilitary energy laboratories. Requires the NRC and OSHA to enter into a memorandum of understanding to govern their respective authorities over occupational safety and health hazards at such laboratories. Transfers a specified amount of appropriations to OSHA for carrying out the transition of regulatory and enforcement responsibilities under this section. Absolves a DOE contractor operating a federally owned or operated nonmilitary energy laboratory of liability for civil penalties under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 or the Occupational Health and Safety Act of 1970 for any actions taken before October 1, 2000, pursuant to the transfer of regulatory and enforcement responsibilities required by this section. Requires the Secretary to: (1) continue to indemnify such laboratories in accordance with a specified provision of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954; and (2) transmit a plan for the termination of DOE's regulatory and enforcement responsibilities for such laboratories to specified congressional committees.

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Documents

6 official files

• Reported in House (text)

  Reported in House · EN · 9 June 2000

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• Reported in House (PDF)

  Reported in House · EN · 9 June 2000

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• Reported to House amended, Part I

  summary · EN · 3 February 2000

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• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 3 May 1999

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• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 3 May 1999

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• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 3 May 1999

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