Congressional Language Terminating the SSC

It took about two hours late last week for the conference committee to approve the language terminating the Superconducting Super Collider. The following are the instructions Congress is giving to “orderly terminate” the SSC:

”...$640,000,000 to remain available until expended, to be used only to orderly terminate the Superconducting Super Collider (SSC) project under terms and conditions as follows:

(1) to the extent provided by guidelines of the Secretary of Energy, full-time employees of contractors and designated subcontractors whose employment is terminated by reason of the termination of the SSC may receive (A) up to 90 days termination pay dating from the date of termination notice, and (B) reasonable relocation expenses and assistance.

(2) the Secretary of Energy shall prepare and submit a report with recommendations to the President and the Congress containing:

(a) a plan to maximize the value of the investment that has been made in the project and minimizing the loss to the United States and involved states and persons, including recommendations as to the feasibility of utilizing SSC assets in whole or in part in pursuit of an international high energy physics endeavor.

(b) the Secretary is authorized to consult with and use Universities Research Associates and/or other contractors and/or recognized experts in preparing this report and recommendations and is authorized to contract with such parties as may be appropriate in carrying out such duties; and

(c) the Secretary shall release any recommendations from time to time as available, but the final report shall be submitted by July 1, 1994; and

(3) nothing herein or any action taken under this authority shall be construed to change the Memorandum of Understanding between the Secretary of Energy and the State of Texas dated November 9, 1990, regarding the project.”

The language continues:

“The Secretary shall also submit to the President and the Congress a report and recommendations concerning plans for other large science projects within the jurisdiction of the Department of Energy.

“This report shall include recommendations as to whether high energy physics and other large research project and programs should continue to be pursued by the United States and, if so, for what purposes should they be pursued and how should they be funded and financed.”