Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§5845 Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 73— - DEVELOPMENT OF ENERGY SOURCES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION; NUCLEAR WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION › § 5845

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates an Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research inside the Commission. The Commission picks a Director who serves at its pleasure and can report directly to the Commission. The Director must recommend what research is needed for licensing and regulation and must do or contract that research. Federal agencies must cooperate, help set priorities, and provide research, information, and access to facilities on a reimbursable basis when the Commission asks. This does not reduce the Administration’s own safety duties. The Commission must also make a long-term plan to develop new or improved safety systems for nuclear powerplants.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §5845

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)There is hereby established in the Commission an Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research under the direction of a Director of Nuclear Regulatory Research, 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.
(b)Subject to the provisions of this chapter, the Director of Nuclear Regulatory Research shall perform such functions as the Commission shall delegate including:
(1)Developing recommendations for research deemed necessary for performance by the Commission of its licensing and related regulatory functions.
(2)Engaging in or contracting for research which the Commission deems necessary for the performance of its licensing and related regulatory functions.
(c)The Administrator of the Administration and the head of every other Federal agency shall—
(1)cooperate with respect to the establishment of priorities for the furnishing of such research services as requested by the Commission for the conduct of its functions;
(2)furnish to the Commission, on a reimbursable basis, through their own facilities or by contract or other arrangement, such research services as the Commission deems necessary and requests for the performance of its functions; and
(3)consult and cooperate with the Commission on research and development matters of mutual interest and provide such information and physical access to its facilities as will assist the Commission in acquiring the expertise necessary to perform its licensing and related regulatory functions.
(d)Nothing in subsections (a) and (b) of this section or section 5841 of this title shall be construed to limit in any way the functions of the Administration relating to the safety of activities within the jurisdiction of the Administration.
(e)Each Federal agency, subject to the provisions of existing law, shall cooperate with the Commission and provide such information and research services, on a reimbursable basis, as it may have or be reasonably able to acquire.
(f)The Commission shall develop a long-term plan for projects for the development of new or improved safety systems for nuclear powerplants.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 93–438, Oct. 11, 1974, 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.

Amendments

1977—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 95–209 added subsec. (f).

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.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 5845

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73