§2735 Use of Probabilistic Risk Assessment to Ensure Nuclear Safety of Facilities of the Administration and the Office of Environmental Management

Summary

The Administrator and the Secretary of Energy must use national and international standards and nuclear industry best practices to check, approve, and oversee safety at certain nuclear sites. They must use probabilistic or quantitative risk assessments when enough data exist. Those assessments can help but cannot replace the requirement in section 2232 of title 42 that special nuclear material be used or produced in a way that meets common defense and provides adequate protection to public health and safety. This applies to national security labs and weapons production sites (Administrator) and to DOE Office of Environmental Management defense nuclear facilities (Secretary).