; (ii) evaluating the development of advanced separation technologies for the extraction and recovery of rare earth elements and minerals from coal and coal byproducts (referred to in this paragraph as the technologies ); (iii) identifying and evaluating the results of the development of the technologies, including the results with respect to the extraction and recovery of each rare earth element; (iv) determining what the technologies are capable of producing; (v) evaluating the performance of the technologies, including what the technologies— (I) succeed and fail at accomplishing; and (II) can and cannot do cost-effectively; and (vi) (I) evaluating the market impact on each rare earth mineral of the penetration of commercially viable technologies; and (II) how the penetration of commercially viable coal-based technology will impact the global supply chain; and (B) a report analyzing— (i) the additional resources required for the development of commercial-ready deployment of technologies that are second generation and transformational; and (ii) the market impact of processes to treat and recover rare earth elements and minerals from sludge generated during treatment of acid mine drainage from coal mines. (2) Requirement In carrying out the assessment and report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall focus on the rare earth elements determined by the Secretary to be most critical to the national security of the United States. 8. Research and development of natural gas Nothing in this Act or an amendment made by this Act precludes the Secretary of Energy from using funds authorized to be made available by this Act or an amendment made by this Act for the research and development of natural gas if the Secretary of Energy determines that the funding results in the investment in technologies that are primarily developed and tested for coal-based applications.