Title 50 — War and National DefenseRelease 119-73not60

§2755 Matters Relating to Critical Decisions

Title 50 › Chapter 42— ATOMIC ENERGY DEFENSE PROVISIONS › Subchapter VII— BUDGET AND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT MATTERS › Part A— Recurring National Security Authorization Provisions › § 2755

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

After a plant project authorized by law and run under Department of Energy Order 413.3B reaches critical decision 2, the Administrator must not change project requirements if the change would raise cost by more than the smaller of $5,000,000 or 15 percent. To approve such a change, the Administrator personally must sign off, send the congressional defense committees a written approval and a study of costs, benefits, and risks (including effects on schedule and mission or operations), and wait 15 days after sending it. The Administrator must also make sure critical decision packages are reviewed quickly and are either approved or denied.

Full Legal Text

Title 50, §2755

War and National Defense — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)After the date on which a plant project specifically authorized by law and carried out under Department of Energy Order 413.3B (relating to program management and project management for the acquisition of capital assets), or a successor order, achieves critical decision 2, the Administrator may not change the requirements for such project if such change increases the cost of such project by more than the lesser of $5,000,000 or 15 percent, unless—

(1)the Administrator submits to the congressional defense committees—

(A)a certification that the Administrator, without delegation, authorizes such proposed change; and

(B)a cost-benefit and risk analysis of such proposed change, including with respect to—

(i)the effects of such proposed change on the project cost and schedule; and

(ii)any mission risks and operational risks from making such change or not making such change; and

(2)a period of 15 days elapses following the date of such submission.

(b)The Administrator shall ensure that critical decision packages are timely reviewed and either approved or disapproved.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

50 U.S.C. § 2755

Title 50 — War and National Defense

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60