Department of Energy Civilian Program Authorization Act

(Reported to Senate from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources with amendment, S. Rept. 95-967)

Department of Energy Civilian Program Authorization Act - =Title I: Energy= - Authorizes appropriations for specified energy supply research and technology development programs and capital investment. Supplements the previous authorizations for specified energy supply research and technology development projects.

Authorizes appropriations for specified energy supply production, demonstration and distribution programs and capital investment programs. Supplements previous authorizations for energy supply production, demonstration and distribution projects.

Authorizes appropriations for the continuation of the Clinch River Breeder Reactor Project. Requires the Secretary of Energy to publish in the Federal Register and report to the appropriate House and Senate committees on his determination: (1) to continue such project according to existing arrangements, objectives, and schedules; or (2) that such project does not meet national requirements for the demonstration of breeder technology. Sets forth the policy to be followed if the project does not meet such requirements.

Requires the Secretary to discuss with the staff of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and to document fully any generic environmental or technical issues related to such project.

Directs the Secretary to submit to the President and the Congress a final report on the conceptual design and specified additional information of such project.

Requires the Secretary to submit to the President and the Congress and to publish in the Federal Register a statement of the Department's policy governing civilian uranium enrichment services and an associated plan for civilian uranium enrichment operations through 1990, with appropriate projections to the year 2000.

Authorizes appropriations for specified conservation programs, the regulation program, emergency preparedness, the energy information program, the environment program, and for policy and management programs.

=Title II: General Science and Research= - Authorizes appropriations for the general science and research program. Authorizes specified sums for designated general science and research capital investment projects.

=Title III: Power Marketing Administrations= - Authorizes appropriations for the Alaska Power Administration, the Western Area Power Administration, the Southwestern Power Administration, and the Southeastern Power Administration.

=Title IV: Geothermal Resources Development Fund= - Authorizes appropriations for the Geothermal Resources Development Fund.

=Title V: Special Foreign Currency= - Authorizes a specified amount for foreign currency to be used for international cooperation in nonnuclear technology.

=Title VI: Other Provisions = - Allows the location of facilities of major items of equipment at installations not within the Department of Energy. Permits the Secretary of Energy to transfer the title or other interests in property of the United States when the Secretary determines such transfer is in the best interests of the Government. Prohibits the use of funds authorized under this Act where the costs to the Government exceeds $5,000,000 in the case of a facility or $2,000,000 in the case of equipment, unless previously authorized by the Congress or the Secretary transmits a report on such facility or item to the appropriate Committees of Congress and waits 30 days.

Prohibits the use of funds authorized by this Act for programs which have not been presented to, or requested of Congress unless 30 calendar days have elapsed since the Secretary of Energy has presented to all the appropriate congressional committees a full and complete statement of the action proposed. Allows the written waiver of such requirement where the waiver is signed by each appropriate committee of Congress.

Allows amounts appropriated to be merged with any other amount appropriated for like purposes on the condition that no such amounts appropriated for "Plant and capital equipment" are merged with amounts appropriated for "Operating expenses.

Allows any moneys received by the Department, including revenues from the enrichment of uranium, to be retained and used for operating expenses.

Prohibits the start of construction projects which costs exceed by more than 25 percent the estimated cost of the project. Stipulates that the total cost of such project shall not exceed the estimated cost by more than 25 percent if such estimated cost was $5,000,000 or more.

Authorizes the start of general plant projects only under specified circumstances.

Prohibits the President from continuing in effect any provisions of the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973, or any ruling or interpretation regarding the relationship between suppliers and purchasers of crude oil which restrict competition, except where necessary to supply crude oil to small refiners.

Sets forth conditions under which the Secretary may retroactively apply certain rules, regulation, and interpretations in a civil action or remedial order against crude oil resellers or independent marketers of petroleum products.

Amends the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973 to provide a prohibition of entitlement subsidy to importers of residual fuel oil and refined petroleum products.

Amends the Solar Heating and Cooling Demonstration Act of 1974 to direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Secretary of Energy to give priority to selection and funding of projects which demonstrate specified solar heating or cooling systems.

Makes it the duty of the Secretary of Energy to conduct annually national and regional energy needs studies.

Establishes a National Alcohol Fuels Commission to study the long- and short-term potential for alcohol fuels to contribute to the Nation's energy needs. Authorizes appropriations to the Commission to carry out the duties set forth in this Act.

Amends the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act to direct the Secretary of Energy to conduct an automobile Fuel Economy study which shall be submitted to the Congress.