Fast breeder reactor program. Hearings before the Joint Economic Committee, Congress of the United States, Ninety-Fourth Congress, First Session

Book · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:7362717

The economics of the liquid metal fast breeder reactor (LMFBR) was the subject of hearings of the Joint Economic Committee, chaired by Sen. Hubert Humphrey. FY '76 funding for the breeder program is $450 million, the largest single item of the Federal energy program. Elmer B. Staats, U.S. Comptroller General, testified on the rising costs of demonstration facilities and pointed out that Federal agencies are required to make all estimates of costs and benefits in constant dollars rather than projecting for inflation. Staats recommended a joint ERDA-Congressional study of the possible use of foreign breeder technology. Sheldon Meyers of the Environmental Protection Agency, while not opposing the breeder program, recommended a delay to resolve three problem areas: (1) base energy demand projections; (2) timing of the commercial introduction of the LMFBR; and (3) uncertainties over possible benefits from the LMFBR program. Theodore B. Taylor, International Research and Technology Corp., discussed the costs and security safeguards of the LMFBR, which produces more spent fuel than the light water reactor. Other witnesses included Robert Seamans and officials from ERDA, Ralph Nader, and speakers from private study groups. (DCK)

• Research Organization: U.S. Congress, Joint Economic Committee, Washington, DC
• OSTI ID: 7362717
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210500 -- Power Reactors
Breeding
210800 -- Nuclear Power Plants-- Economics
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
290600* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
293000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
BREEDER REACTORS
CONSTRUCTION
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY POLICY
EPITHERMAL REACTORS
FAST REACTORS
FBR TYPE REACTORS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
HEARINGS
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
LIQUID METAL COOLED REACTORS
LMFBR TYPE REACTORS
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
POWER PLANTS
REACTORS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS