718 



— DOE'S policy on international cooperation in fusion energy 

 development is to participate in those activities which 

 provide scientific and technical benefits to the U.S. pro- 

 gram, doe's participation in international cooperative 

 activities is coordinated with the Office of Science and 

 Technology Policy of the Executive Office of the President, 

 and the Department of State to ensure that the projects are 

 in conformance with the administration's energy research 

 policy and are politically and diplomatically acceptable. 

 According to DOE officials, all international efforts are 

 designed to contribute to DOE's fusion R&D program but are 

 not considered critical to continued progress in the U.S. 

 fusion program. Where feasible, DOE also strives to reduce 

 the building and operating costs of facilities through 

 international cooperation. To further identify and 

 evaluate international options for the fusion program, such 

 as joint construction projects, DOE has contracted with the 

 National Academy of Sciences for a study of various aspects 

 of international fusion activities. 



— U.S. fusion scientists and program officials participate in 

 numerous international cooperative efforts covering a broad 

 spectrum of scientific and technical matters with the other 

 countries conducting major .fusion energy research and 

 development programs--Japan , the Soviet Union, and the 

 European Community. Many of these international coopera- 

 tive efforts involve the routine exchange of information 

 during conferences or through publication in scientific and 

 technical journals. In addition, U.S. personnel periodi- 

 cally visit and participate in research at fusion facili- 

 ties in other countries and, in turn, host visits of for- 

 eign fusion scientists at U.S. research and development 

 facilities. The U.S. program is also involved in three 

 joint projects arranged through formal government-to- 

 government agreements, with Japan. Under those agreements, 

 Japan is contributing about $84 million over a 10-year 

 period to the operation of three research facilities in 

 the United States in exchange for experimental time for 

 Japanese scientists. 



— At this time, the United States is generally regarded by 

 U.S. fusion experts as the world leader in fusion energy 

 R&D. This position is in jeopardy as other countries. 



