Energy Reorganization Act of 1974
Encyclopedia
The Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 is a United States federal law that established the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
. Under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954
, a single agency, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
, had responsibility for the development and production of nuclear weapons and for both the development and the safety regulation
of the civilian uses of nuclear materials. The Act of 1974 split these functions, assigning to the Energy Research and Development Administration
(now the United States Department of Energy
) the responsibility for the development and production of nuclear weapons, promotion of nuclear power, and other energy-related work, and assigning to the NRC the regulatory work, which does not include regulation of defense nuclear facilities. The Act of 1974 gave the Commission its collegial structure and established its major offices.
A later amendment to the Act also provided protections for employees, whistleblowers, who raise nuclear safety
concerns. Whistleblowers who believe they suffered retaliation for their protected activities have to file a written complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) within 180 days of the first notice of the adverse action. The whistleblowers would later have a choice of having their claim heard by an administrative law judge of the United States Department of Labor
or file a lawsuit in court and seek a trial to a judge or jury.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is an independent agency of the United States government that was established by the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 from the United States Atomic Energy Commission, and was first opened January 19, 1975...
. Under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954
Atomic Energy Act of 1954
The Atomic Energy Act of 1954, 42 U.S.C. § 2011 et seq., is a United States federal law that is, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, "the fundamental U.S...
, a single agency, the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission
United States Atomic Energy Commission
The United States Atomic Energy Commission was an agency of the United States government established after World War II by Congress to foster and control the peace time development of atomic science and technology. President Harry S...
, had responsibility for the development and production of nuclear weapons and for both the development and the safety regulation
Nuclear safety
Nuclear safety covers the actions taken to prevent nuclear and radiation accidents or to limit their consequences. This covers nuclear power plants as well as all other nuclear facilities, the transportation of nuclear materials, and the use and storage of nuclear materials for medical, power,...
of the civilian uses of nuclear materials. The Act of 1974 split these functions, assigning to the Energy Research and Development Administration
Energy Research and Development Administration
The United States Energy Research and Development Administration was a United States government organization formed from the split of the Atomic Energy Commission in 1975...
(now the United States Department of Energy
United States Department of Energy
The United States Department of Energy is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government concerned with the United States' policies regarding energy and safety in handling nuclear material...
) the responsibility for the development and production of nuclear weapons, promotion of nuclear power, and other energy-related work, and assigning to the NRC the regulatory work, which does not include regulation of defense nuclear facilities. The Act of 1974 gave the Commission its collegial structure and established its major offices.
A later amendment to the Act also provided protections for employees, whistleblowers, who raise nuclear safety
Nuclear safety
Nuclear safety covers the actions taken to prevent nuclear and radiation accidents or to limit their consequences. This covers nuclear power plants as well as all other nuclear facilities, the transportation of nuclear materials, and the use and storage of nuclear materials for medical, power,...
concerns. Whistleblowers who believe they suffered retaliation for their protected activities have to file a written complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. It was created by Congress of the United States under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed by President Richard M. Nixon, on December 29, 1970...
(OSHA) within 180 days of the first notice of the adverse action. The whistleblowers would later have a choice of having their claim heard by an administrative law judge of the United States Department of Labor
United States Department of Labor
The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. Many U.S. states also have such departments. The...
or file a lawsuit in court and seek a trial to a judge or jury.
External links
- Information from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER)
- Government Accountability Project
- Project On Government Oversight (POGO)
- National Whistleblower Center
- Workplace Fairness FAQ for environmental whistleblowers
- Tate & Renner article on whistleblowers under U.S. federal law
- Whistleblower Employee Protection Website
- U.S. Department of Labor Whistleblower Program & information