§2273 Violation of Sections

Summary

People who willfully break, try to break, or plan to break any rule in this part of the law or any order under sections 2095 or 2201(b),(i), or (o) can be punished. If convicted, the penalty is up to $5,000 in fines or up to two years in prison, or both. If the act was meant to hurt the United States or help a foreign country, the penalty is up to $20,000 or up to 20 years in prison, or both. Company directors, officers, or employees who knowingly and willfully violate rules while building or supplying parts for a licensed reactor, and whose actions cause or could have caused serious harm to a “basic component,” face fines up to $25,000 per day or up to two years in prison; after a first conviction the fine can be up to $50,000 per day. “Basic component” means something needed to keep the reactor coolant boundary intact; to shut down and keep the plant safely shut down; or to prevent or lessen accidents that could release dangerous amounts of radioactive material. These penalties must be posted at reactor construction sites and at plants that make their parts. Directors, officers, or employees of entities indemnified under section 2210(d) (and their subcontractors or suppliers) who knowingly break nuclear safety rules under the Secretary of Energy and cause or could have caused a nuclear incident face up to $25,000 or two years in prison; after a first conviction the penalty can be up to $50,000 or up to five years in prison.