Department of Energy Nuclear Transparency Act
Sponsored By: Representative Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
Introduced
Summary
24-hour public disclosures for major actions at high-hazard DOE nuclear facilities. This bill would require the Department of Energy to post fast public announcements, share safety analyses with limited redactions, and send an annual authorization report to Congress.
Show full summary
- People near DOE sites and the general public would get quicker access to notices and most safety documents after safety rules change, a safety analysis is issued, or an authorization agreement is signed.
- The Department of Energy would have to post announcements and summaries on a public website within 24 hours after altering directives or safety standards, issuing preliminary or final documented safety analyses, or entering authorization agreements.
- Congress would receive an annual report by January 31 each year on DOE activities to authorize covered DOE nuclear facilities.
- Commercially sensitive information may be removed from posted documents to protect business secrets while keeping safety material public.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Annual report on DOE nuclear authorizations
This bill would require the Secretary of Energy to submit a report each year by January 31 to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. The report would detail any activities the Secretary took to authorize covered DOE nuclear facilities during the prior calendar year. Covered facilities would mean Hazard Category 1, 2, and 3 DOE nuclear sites under the Secretary's authority.
Public notices for DOE nuclear facilities
This bill would require the Secretary of Energy to post notices on a public DOE website within 24 hours after certain actions about covered DOE nuclear facilities. Notices would cover changes to directives or safety standards and must summarize how they changed. Notices would include any agreement to authorize a covered facility and list any conditions that apply. Notices would include preliminary or final documented safety analyses, but the Secretary could remove commercially sensitive information. "Covered DOE nuclear facilities" would mean Hazard Category 1, 2, or 3 DOE sites over which the Secretary has authority, and the bill would adopt existing regulatory definitions for documented safety analyses.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
FL • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov