10 U.S.C. § 6278: Authority for emergency…

§6278 Authority for Emergency Planning, Design, and Construction Activities

Title 10 › Subtitle A — General Military Law › PART VI — ELEMENTS OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND OTHER MATTERS › Subpart B — Atomic Energy Defense › CHAPTER 607 — BUDGET AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT MATTERS › SUBCHAPTER I — RECURRING NATIONAL SECURITY AUTHORIZATION PROVISIONS › § 6278

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Energy can use DOE national security money, including funds for planning, engineering, design, and plant projects, to quickly plan, design, and build national security construction projects when the Secretary decides fast action is needed to protect people’s health and safety, meet national defense needs, or safeguard property. The Secretary cannot start this work until they send a report to the congressional defense committees explaining the planned actions and why they are necessary. The rule in section 6277(b)(2) does not apply to emergency planning, design, and construction done under this authority.

Title 10, §6278

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Authority.—

The Secretary of Energy may use any funds available to the Department of Energy pursuant to a DOE national security authorization, including funds authorized to be appropriated for advance planning, engineering, and construction design, and for plant projects, to perform planning, design, and construction activities for any Department of Energy national security program construction project that, as determined by the Secretary, must proceed expeditiously in order to protect public health and safety, to meet the needs of national defense, or to protect property.

(b)Limitation.—

The Secretary may not exercise the authority under subsection (a) in the case of a construction project until the Secretary has submitted to the congressional defense committees a report on the activities that the Secretary intends to carry out under this section and the circumstances making those activities necessary.

(c)Specific Authority.—

The requirement of section 6277(b)(2) does not apply to emergency planning, design, and construction activities conducted under this section.

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 2747 of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(b)(1).

§6278 Authority for Emergency Planning, Design, and Construction Activities

Summary

Title 10, §6278

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Citations & Metadata