According to the Saginaw News, the Casting Emission Reduction Program has been designated to have its federal research sponsorship renewed in the recently approved National Defense Authorization Bill for FY 2006.

The Bill appropriates $300 million for U.S. Army research into combat vehicle technologies, of which $6.2 million would be assigned to CERP. The U.S. Senate approved the bill October 7, and it is now slated for reconciliation with a version approved by the House of Representatives last June.

CERP is a joint research effort by DOD and various metalcasting industry groups, aimed at developing techniques that minimize the environmental impact of metalcasting processes.

In September, Technikon LLC’s contract with the U.S. Army to carry out the CERP research was renewed for a fourth term.