§1528 — Title 50 War and National Defense | U.S. Code

Summary

The Secretary of Defense must tell the congressional defense committees within 45 days after a "covered report" is filed with the CDC or APHIS about any theft, loss, or release of a biological select agent or toxin that involves the Department of Defense. The Secretary gives the notice through the Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical, and Biological Defense Policy and Programs. For a release, notice is required only if the Assistant Secretary decides the agent escaped containment into the air or environment or caused worker exposure that threatens public safety. The notice must name the agent and identifying details (like strain), estimate the amount, give the location or facility, describe hazards and how many people might be exposed for a release, and list response actions taken. "Covered report" means reports under 7 CFR 331.19, 9 CFR 121.19, or 42 CFR 73.19.

Title 50, §1528

War and National Defense — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)(1)Subject to paragraph (2), not later than 45 days after a covered report of any theft, loss, or release of a biological select agent or toxin involving the Department of Defense is filed with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Secretary of Defense, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical, and Biological Defense Policy and Programs, shall provide to the congressional defense committees notice of such theft, loss, or release.

(2)The Secretary shall provide to the congressional defense committees notice of a release under paragraph (1) only if the Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary, determines that the release is outside the barriers of secondary containment into the ambient air or environment or is causing occupational exposure that presents a threat to public safety.

(3)In this subsection, the term “covered report” means a report filed under any of the following (or any successor regulations):

(A)section 331.19 of title 7, Code of Federal Regulations.

(B)section 121.19 of title 9, Code of Federal Regulations.

(C)section 73.19 of title 42, Code of Federal Regulations.

(b)Notice of a theft, loss, or release of a biological select agent or toxin under subsection (a) shall include each of the following:

(1)The name of the agent or toxin and any identifying information, including the strain or other relevant characterization information.

(2)An estimate of the quantity of the agent or toxin stolen, lost, or released.

(3)The location or facility from which the theft, loss, or release occurred.

(4)In the case of a release, any hazards posed by the release and the number of individuals potentially exposed to the agent or toxin.

(5)Actions taken to respond to the theft, loss, or release.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, and not as part of Pub. L. 91–121, title IV, § 409, Nov. 19, 1969, 83 Stat. 209, which comprises this chapter.

Amendments

2024—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 118–159 substituted “Nuclear Deterrence, Chemical, and Biological Defense Policy and Programs” for “Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Defense Programs”. 2023—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 118–31 amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Not later than 15 days after notice of any theft, loss, or release of a biological select agent or toxin involving the Department of Defense is provided to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, as specified by section 331.19 of part 7 of the Code of Federal

Regulations

, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense committees notice of such theft, loss, or release.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

“Congressional Defense Committees” Defined Congressional defense committees means the Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives, see section 3 of Pub. L. 114–328, 130 Stat. 2025. See note under section 101 of Title 10, Armed Forces.

§1528 Congressional notification of biological select agent and toxin theft, loss, or release involving the Department of Defense