There is hereby established an independent establishment in the executive branch, to be known as the "Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board" (hereafter in this subchapter referred to as the "Board").
(1) The Board shall be composed of five members appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, from among United States citizens who are respected experts in the field of nuclear safety with a demonstrated competence and knowledge relevant to the independent investigative and oversight functions of the Board. Not more than three members of the Board shall be of the same political party.
(2) Any vacancy in the membership of the Board shall be filled in the same manner in which the original appointment was made.
(3) No member of the Board may be an employee of, or have any significant financial relationship with, the Department of Energy or any contractor of the Department of Energy.
(4) The President shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences under which the National Academy shall maintain a list of individuals who meet the qualifications described in paragraph (1) to assist the President in selecting individuals to nominate for positions as members of the Board.
(1) The President shall designate a Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board from among members of the Board.
(2) In accordance with paragraphs (5) and (6), the Chairman shall be the chief executive officer of the Board and, subject to such policies as the Board may establish, shall exercise the functions of the Board with respect to-
(A) the appointment and supervision of employees of the Board;
(B) the organization of any administrative units established by the Board; and
(C) the use and expenditure of funds.
(3)(A) The Chairman may delegate any of the functions under this paragraph to any other member or to any appropriate officer of the Board.
(B) In carrying out subparagraph (A), the Chairman shall delegate to the Executive Director of Operations established under section 2286b(b)(3) of this title the following functions:
(i) Administrative functions of the Board.
(ii) Appointment and supervision of employees of the Board not specified under paragraph (6).
(iii) Distribution of business among the employees and administrative units and offices of the Board.
(iv) Preparation of-
(I) proposals for the reorganization of the administrative units or offices of the Board;
(II) the budget estimate for the Board; and
(III) the proposed distribution of funds according to purposes approved by the Board.
(4) The Vice Chairman shall act as Chairman in the event of the absence or incapacity of the Chairman or in case of a vacancy in the office of Chairman.
(5) Each member of the Board, including the Chairman and Vice Chairman, shall-
(A) have equal responsibility and authority in establishing decisions and determining actions of the Board;
(B) have full access to all information relating to the performance of the Board's functions, powers, and mission; and
(C) have one vote.
(6)(A) The Chairman, subject to the approval of the Board, shall appoint the senior employees described in subparagraph (C). Any member of the Board may propose to the Chairman an individual to be so appointed.
(B) The Chairman, subject to the approval of the Board, may remove a senior employee described in subparagraph (C). Any member of the Board may propose to the Chairman an individual to be so removed.
(C) The senior employees described in this subparagraph are the following senior employees of the Board:
(i) The Executive Director of Operations established under section 2286b(b)(3) of this title.
(ii) The general counsel.
(1) Except as provided under paragraph (2), the members of the Board shall serve for terms of five years. Members of the Board may be reappointed.
(2) Of the members first appointed-
(A) one shall be appointed for a term of one year;
(B) one shall be appointed for a term of two years;
(C) one shall be appointed for a term of three years;
(D) one shall be appointed for a term of four years; and
(E) one shall be appointed for a term of five years,
as designated by the President at the time of appointment.
(3) Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term of office for which such member's predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the remainder of such term. A member may serve after the expiration of that member's term until a successor has taken office.
(4)(A) Not later than 180 days after the expiration of the term of a member of the Board, the President shall-
(i) submit to the Senate the nomination of an individual to fill the vacancy; or
(ii) submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate a report that includes-
(I) a description of the reasons the President did not submit such a nomination; and
(II) a plan for submitting such a nomination during the 90-day period following the submission of the report.
(B) If the President does not submit to the Senate the nomination of an individual to fill a vacancy during the 90-day period described in subclause (II) of subparagraph (A)(ii), the President shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services a report described in that subparagraph not less frequently than every 90 days until the President submits such a nomination.
Three members of the Board shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.
(Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, §311, as added
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking the second sentence and inserting the following new sentences: "A member may be reappointed for a second term only if the member was confirmed by the Senate more than two years into the member's first term. A member may not be reappointed for a third term."; and
(2) in paragraph (3)-
(A) by striking "Any member" and inserting "(A) Any member";
(B) by striking the second sentence; and
(C) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
(B) A member may not serve after the expiration of the member's term, unless the departure of the member would result in the loss of a quorum for the Board. If more than one member is serving after the expiration of the member's term and a new member is appointed to the Board so that one of the members serving after the expiration of the member's term is no longer necessary to maintain a quorum, the member whose term expired first may no longer serve on the Board.
See 2019 Amendment notes below.
2019-Subsec. (b)(4).
Subsec. (c)(2).
Subsec. (c)(3).
Subsec. (c)(6).
"(6)(A) The Chairman, subject to the approval of the Board, shall appoint the senior employees described in subparagraph (C).
"(B) The Chairman, subject to the approval of the Board, may remove a senior employee described in subparagraph (C).
"(C) The senior employees described in this subparagraph are the following senior employees of the Board:
"(i) The senior employee responsible for budgetary and general administration matters.
"(ii) The general counsel.
"(iii) The senior employee responsible for technical matters."
Subsec. (c)(7).
Subsec. (d)(1).
Subsec. (d)(3).
Subsec. (d)(4).
2015-Subsec. (c)(2).
Subsec. (c)(6).
Subsec. (c)(7).
2013-Subsec. (b)(4).
Subsec. (c).
Subsec. (c)(2).
Subsec. (c)(5).
"(a)
"(1) An assessment of the value of and the need for the Board to continue to perform the functions specified under chapter 21 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2286 et seq.).
"(2) An assessment of the relationship between the functions of the Board and a proposal by the Department of Energy to place Department of Energy defense nuclear facilities under the jurisdiction of external regulatory agencies.
"(3) An assessment of the functions of the Board and whether there is a need to modify or amend such functions.
"(4) An assessment of the relative advantages and disadvantages to the Department and the public of continuing the functions of the Board with respect to Department of Energy defense nuclear facilities and replacing the activities of the Board with external regulation of such facilities.
"(5) A list of all existing or planned Department of Energy defense nuclear facilities that are similar to facilities under the regulatory jurisdiction of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
"(6) A list of all Department of Energy defense nuclear facilities that are in compliance with all applicable Department of Energy orders, regulations, and requirements relating to the design, construction, operation, and decommissioning of defense nuclear facilities.
"(7) A list of all Department of Energy defense nuclear facilities that have implemented, pursuant to an implementation plan, recommendations made by the Board and accepted by the Secretary of Energy.
"(8) A list of Department of Energy defense nuclear facilities that have a function related to Department weapons activities.
"(9)(A) A list of each existing defense nuclear facility that the Board determines-
"(i) should continue to stay within the jurisdiction of the Board for a period of time or indefinitely; and
"(ii) should come under the jurisdiction of an outside regulatory authority.
"(B) An explanation of the determinations made under subparagraph (A).
"(10) For any existing facilities that should, in the opinion of the Board, come under the jurisdiction of an outside regulatory authority, the date when this move would occur and the period of time necessary for the transition.
"(11) A list of any proposed Department of Energy defense nuclear facilities that should come under the Board's jurisdiction.
"(12) An assessment of regulatory and other issues associated with the design, construction, operation, and decommissioning of facilities that are not owned by the Department of Energy but which would provide services to the Department of Energy.
"(13) An assessment of the role of the Board, if any, in privatization projects undertaken by the Department.
"(14) An assessment of the role of the Board, if any, in any tritium production facilities.
"(15) An assessment of the comparative advantages and disadvantages to the Department of Energy in the event some or all Department of Energy defense nuclear facilities were no longer included in the functions of the Board and were regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
"(16) A comparison of the cost, as identified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, that would be incurred at a gaseous diffusion plant to comply with regulations issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, with the cost that would be incurred by a gaseous diffusion plant if such a plant was considered to be a Department of Energy defense nuclear facility as defined by chapter 21 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2286 et seq.).
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)