Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare
Chapter 73 — Development of Energy Sources
§ 5843. Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
Statutory text
Establishment; appointment of Director
There is hereby established in the Commission an Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation under the direction of a Director of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, who shall be appointed by the Commission, who may report directly to the Commission, as provided in section 5849 of this title, and who shall serve at the pleasure of and be removable by the Commission.
Functions of Director
Subject to the provisions of this chapter, the Director of Nuclear Reactor Regulation shall perform such functions as the Commission shall delegate, including the following:
Principal licensing and regulation involving all facilities, and materials licensed under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended [42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.], associated with the construction and operation of nuclear reactors licensed under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended;
Review the safety and safeguards of all such facilities, materials, and activities, and such review functions shall include, but not be limited to—
monitoring, testing and recommending upgrading of systems designed to prevent substantial health or safety hazards; and
evaluating methods of transporting special nuclear and other nuclear materials and of transporting and storing high-level radioactive wastes to prevent radiation hazards to employees and the general public.
Recommend research necessary to fulfill the licensing and regulatory oversight functions of the Commission.
Licensing process
In carrying out the principal licensing and regulation functions under subsection (b)(1), the Director of Nuclear Reactor Regulation shall—
establish techniques and guidance for evaluating applications for licenses for nuclear reactors to support efficient, timely, and predictable reviews of applications for those licenses to enable the safe and secure use of nuclear reactors;
maintain the techniques and guidance established under paragraph (1) by periodically assessing and, if necessary, modifying those techniques and guidance; and
obtain approval from the Commission if establishment or modification of the techniques and guidance under paragraph (1) or (2) involves policy formulation.
Responsibility for safe operation of facilities
Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit in any way the functions of the Administration relating to the safe operation of all facilities resulting from all activities within the jurisdiction of the Administration pursuant to this chapter.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Pub. L. 93–438 title II § 203 · 88 Stat. 1233
Enacted · 42 U.S.C. § 5843
Pub. L. 93–438, title II, § 203, Oct. 11, 1974, 88 Stat. 1244
Source evidence
Code source credit
Pub. L. 93–438, title II, § 203, Oct. 11, 1974, 88 Stat. 1244Enacted provision · exact public law section
Sec. 203. (a) There is hereby established in the Commission an Establishment. 42 USC 5843. Director. Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation under the direction of a Director of Nuclear Reactor Regulation, who shall be appointed by the Commission, who may report directly to the Commission, as provided in section 209, and who shall serve at the pleasure of and be removable by the Commission. (b) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Director of Nuclear Functions. Reactor Regulation shall perform such functions as the Commission shall delegate including: (1) Principal licensing and regulation involving all facilities, and materials licensed under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as 42 USC 2011 note. amended, associated with the construction and operation of nuclear reactors licensed under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended; (2) Review the safety and safeguards of all such facilities, materials, and activities, and such review functions shall include, but not be limited to— (A) monitoring, testing and recommending upgrading of systems designed to prevent substantial health or safety hazards; and (B) evaluating methods of transporting special nuclear and other nuclear materials and of transporting and storing high-level radioactive wastes to prevent radiation hazards to employees and the general public. (3) Recommend research necessary for the discharge of the functions of the Commission. (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit in any way the functions of the Administration relating to the safe operation of all facilities resulting from all activities within the jurisdiction of the Administration pursuant to this Act.Pub. L. 118–67 § 505(a)(1) · 138 Stat. 1477
Inserted · 42 U.S.C. § 5843(a)
Pub. L. 118–67, § 505(a)(1), inserted heading
Unresolved: Pub. L. 118–67 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 118–67, § 505(a)(1), inserted heading.Pub. L. 118–67 § 505(a)(2)(A) · 138 Stat. 1477
Inserted · 42 U.S.C. § 5843(b)
Pub. L. 118–67, § 505(a)(2)(A), inserted heading
Substituted · 42 U.S.C. § 5843(b)
Pub. L. 118–67, § 505(a)(2)(A), substituted “delegate, including the following:” for “delegate including:” in introductory provisions
Unresolved: Pub. L. 118–67 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 118–67, § 505(a)(2)(A), inserted heading and substituted “delegate, including the following:” for “delegate including:” in introductory provisions.Pub. L. 118–67 § 505(a)(2)(B) · 138 Stat. 1477
Substituted · 42 U.S.C. § 5843(b)(3)
Pub. L. 118–67, § 505(a)(2)(B), substituted “to fulfill the licensing and regulatory oversight” for “for the discharge of the”
Unresolved: Pub. L. 118–67 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 118–67, § 505(a)(2)(B), substituted “to fulfill the licensing and regulatory oversight” for “for the discharge of the”.Pub. L. 118–67 § 505(a)(3) · 138 Stat. 1477
Added · 42 U.S.C. § 5843(c); 42 U.S.C. § 5843(d)
Pub. L. 118–67, § 505(a)(3), (4), added subsec. (c)
Redesignated · 42 U.S.C. § 5843(c); 42 U.S.C. § 5843(d)
Pub. L. 118–67, § 505(a)(3), (4), redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d)
Inserted · 42 U.S.C. § 5843(c); 42 U.S.C. § 5843(d)
Pub. L. 118–67, § 505(a)(3), (4), inserted heading in subsec. (d)
Unresolved: Pub. L. 118–67 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 118–67, § 505(a)(3), (4), added subsec. (c), redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d), and inserted heading in subsec. (d).
1 of 8 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 7 unresolved
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in subsecs. (b) and (d), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 93–438, , 88 Stat. 1233, known as the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5801 of this title and Tables.
The Atomic Energy Act of 1954, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), is act Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, as added by act Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 1, 68 Stat. 919, which is classified principally to chapter 23 (§ 2011 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2011 of this title and Tables.
Amendments
2024—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 118–67, § 505(a)(1), inserted heading.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 118–67, § 505(a)(2)(A), inserted heading and substituted “delegate, including the following:” for “delegate including:” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 118–67, § 505(a)(2)(B), substituted “to fulfill the licensing and regulatory oversight” for “for the discharge of the”.
Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 118–67, § 505(a)(3), (4), added subsec. (c), redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d), and inserted heading in subsec. (d).
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of certain functions from Nuclear Regulatory Commission to Chairman thereof, see Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1980, 45 F.R. 40561, 94 Stat. 3585, set out as a note under section 5841 of this title.
Credits
1974–2024 · 2 acts
- 1974Pub. L. 93–438, title II, § 203, , 88 Stat. 1244
- 2024Pub. L. 118–67, div. B, title V, § 505(a), , 138 Stat. 1477.
Show as published
(Pub. L. 93–438, title II, § 203, , 88 Stat. 1244; Pub. L. 118–67, div. B, title V, § 505(a), , 138 Stat. 1477.)