CRS Analysis of Federal Big Science Projects: DOE

FYI #160 summarized a recent CRS report analyzing 30 selected big science projects, and provided the report’s summary of LIGO. This FYI provides selected quotes from the CRS report relating to DOE projects; FYI #162 will cover NASA projects. In parentheses are the expected date of completion, the initial estimated cost, and the current estimated cost.

B-FACTORY (FY1998; $293 m; $293 m): “The B-Factory project...is considered very important to the U.S. high energy physics program because of intense international competition in the research of B-meson phenomena which contributes to further understanding of matter and antimatter in the universe.”

CONTINUOUS ELECTRON BEAM ACCELERATOR FACILITY (FY1995; $225 m; $513 m): “CEBAF was strongly recommended by DOE and its nuclear science advisory panel. Following a [1984 House science committee hearing]..., a provision authorizing CEBAF funding was included in a House bill to authorize DOE civilian R&D programs. However, no laws authorizing DOE’s civilian R&D programs were enacted subsequently by the Congress.”

RELATIVISTIC HEAVY ION COLLIDER (FY1999; $497 m; $595 m): “RHIC was strongly recommended by DOE and its nuclear advisory panel.... Although not authorized, as have been no other DOE civilian R&D projects since the inception of RHIC, it received steady yearly congressional appropriations and is estimated to be completed in FY1999, about two years beyond its original estimated completion date.”

ADVANCED NEUTRON SOURCE (FY2003; $2.75 b; $2.88 b): “The ANS is a major research project which appears to have considerable congressional support. On several occasions since FY1998, Congress has added funds to the DOE budget request for ANS pre-construction research. Congress did not approve the start of construction in FY1994, however, and, for FY1995, both houses approved a little more than half the DOE request, with only the House-proposed legislation permitting the start of construction. While the Congress still appears to believe the project is needed, it is concerned about the very high projected costs in future years in light of current budget constraints.”

ADVANCED PHOTON SOURCE (FY1996; $812 m; $812 m): “The APS project was developed through a rigorous merit review process at DOE. It appears to have received strong congressional support because of its many applications and the support of potential industrial users. Since construction was first proposed in FY1989, Congress has granted all DOE funding requests for construction. The project appears to be on schedule and budget.”

INTERNATIONAL THERMONUCLEAR EXPERIMENTAL REACTOR (FY2005-2008; $4.9 b; $8-10 b): “The ITER project is an unprecedented international science project in terms of its size and the complexity of the agreements thus far. While the project has been a success to date and congressional support has remained strong, there is growing concern about its eventual cost, the prospects for the tokamak concept, and the difficulties expected in agreeing to a construction site.”

TOKAMAK PHYSICS EXPERIMENT (FY2000; $694 m; $694 m): “While the TPX has received congressional support so far, its future is cloudy. The House agreed to the FY1995 request of $66.9 million, including $45 million for construction. An amendment on the floor of the House to remove that funding was defeated. The Senate appropriated $28 million for design and research only, although it added an amendment permitting DOE to spend the $45 million for construction if Congress authorized the TPX first. In addition, if the TPX does survive the FY1995 appropriation process [it received design but no construction funding], the FY1996 request will be about $135 million, requiring a substantial increase in the DOE magnetic fusion budget.”