; (B) ensure environmental safety; and (C) lower the cost of the production and financial risks faced by rare earth producers in the United States. (10) Historically, agricultural and electric cooperatives have stood as one of the greatest success stories of the United States. (b) Statement of policy It is the policy of the United States to advance domestic refining of rare earth elements and the safe storage of thorium in anticipation of the potential future industrial uses of thorium, including energy, because— (1) thorium has a mineralogical association with valuable rare earth elements; (2) there is a great need to develop domestic refining capacity to process domestic rare earth element deposits; and (3) the economy of the United States would benefit from the rapid development and control of intellectual property relating to the commercial development of technology utilizing thorium. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Actinide The term actinide means a natural element associated with any of the series of 15 metallic elements between actinium, with atomic number 89, and lawrencium, with atomic number 103, on the periodic table. (2) Cooperative The term Cooperative means the Thorium-Bearing Rare Earth Refinery Cooperative established under section 4(a). (3) Corporation The term Corporation means the Thorium Storage, Energy, and Industrial Products Corporation established under section 5(a). (4) National Laboratory The term National Laboratory has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 15801 ). (5) Rare earth element The term rare earth element means a natural element associated with— (A) the metallic element scandium, with atomic number 21, or yttrium, with atomic number 39; (B) any of the series of 15 metallic elements between lanthanum, with atomic number 57, and lutetium, with atomic number 71, on the periodic table