ITER, he said, is "first of a kind," and "precedent-setting," in terms of collaboration on a major scientific experiment and in learning how to negotiate with international partners.

He noted that he had ranked ITER as the "number one" priority on his list of DOE science facilities marked for future construction, in a recently completed DOE planning document.

He also noted that a next step Spherical Torus was on the list of priorities for the long term, as well as a "Fusion Contingency" project to take advantage of results following ITER.

Orbach said he recognized the need to develop materials for future fusion plants and had asked that a workshop be convened in the Spring of 2004 to consider this issue.

Finally, he noted that both the Energy Bill now before Congress and recent Appropriations Committee actions showed strong Congressional support for fusion.

A summary of his remarks, as reported by Office of Fusion Energy Sciences director, Dr. N. Anne Davies, is posted at http://fire.pppl.gov/fpa_annual03.html