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Nuclear Science User Facilities 28 a cost-benefit analysis. For example if we identify a required or desirable post-irradiation examination tech- nology thats not currently accessible in the U.S. we do an assessment of how we might establish it in the U.S. and where. The other side of the gap analysis is to identify if there are capabilities with a high degree of redundancy or under utilization. Is the same PIE technique duplicated at several facilities but is only being used 20 percent of the time So if a facility asks to add the same technology we may suggest that the institution consider using the already established yet under-utilized capability. Its a big job to create this database manage it and then employ it to help DOE use its capabilities more cost-efficiently. This capability database will be made available to the public so users can come in and determine for themselves if the technology or area of expertise they need is already available either in the U.S. or internationally or if it has potential as an area of opportunity for their own institution.Also individual researchers can use the database to help develop their research projects and proposals. The second resource were continuing to develop is the NSUF sample library. It has proven to be very valuable from cost-efficiency and time-saving perspectives and so we are actively moving to enhance it.There are a lot of irradiated materials that have been sitting around for quite some time. Theres no reason for us to do an irradiation test that could cost upwards of a million dollars if the irradiated samples already exist.And there may already be a knowledge base associated with those samples that we havent identified. It is very important though that the samples have a very good pedigree documented. As we go forward we will continue to add to the sample library with new and unique samples as we conduct additional irradiation tests. In addi- tion we are engaging the international community in the hopes that there could eventually be an international sample library of materials available to nuclear researchers. DOE is very interested in pursuing this kind of cooperative effort and the NSUF is more than willing to be the tool to facilitate it. In fact were trying to establish a collaboration with the United Kingdom which just recently established its own user facility. One of the conversations weve had with them dealt with the sample library.They have a large number of archived samples and agree that we should work toward collaborating in some way.Were hoping that once the momentum is achieved with the UK we can use it to forge relationships with other countries as well. Q Finallywhats your view of the future of nuclear energyboth in the U.S.and abroad A Im very optimistic both on the domestic and international fronts. The fact is nuclear energy has a very high value as an inexpensive source of energy over the long term.Technolo- gies are being investigated that can allow us to build safer more efficient reactors that can last perhaps 100 years or more. So while their initial construction costs can be high the cost of the power it produces over the life of that reactor is actually very low. At the same time nuclear power helps reduce the carbon emissions produced by fossil-fuel power generation. Its so gratifying that the NSUF and the researchers and staff members at our various partner facilities are making a significant contribution to making nuclear energy a safer more efficient more environmentally responsible energy resource for the entire world.