---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 6262"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "6262"
heading: "Safety oversight and enforcement at defense nuclear facilities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/6262"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part VI — Elements of Department of Defense and Other Matters"
  - "Subpart B — Atomic Energy Defense"
  - "Chapter 606 — Personnel Matters"
  - "Subchapter III — Worker Safety"
---

# §6262. Safety oversight and enforcement at defense nuclear facilities


The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Energy shall take appropriate actions to ensure that—

- (1) officials of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Energy who are responsible for independent oversight of matters relating to nuclear safety at defense nuclear [facilities](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) and enforcement of nuclear safety [standards](/usc/10/3011.md?p=3) at such [facilities](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) maintain independence from officials who are engaged in, or who are advising [persons](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) who are engaged in, management of such [facilities](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2);
- (2) the independent, internal oversight [functions](/usc/10/467.md?p=1) carried out by the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) include activities relating to—
  - (A) the assessment of the safety of defense nuclear [facilities](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2);
  - (B) the assessment of the effectiveness of [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) offices in carrying out [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) relating to the [environment](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2), safety, health, and security at defense nuclear [facilities](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2);
  - (C) the provision to the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of oversight reports that—
    - (i) contain validated technical information; and
    - (ii) provide a clear analysis of the extent to which line [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) governing defense nuclear [facilities](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) meet applicable goals for the [environment](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2), safety, health, and security at such [facilities](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2); and
  - (D) the development of clear performance [standards](/usc/10/3011.md?p=3) to be used in assessing the adequacy of the [programs](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) referred to in [subparagraph (C)(ii)](#2-C-ii);
- (3) the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) has a system for bringing issues relating to nuclear safety at defense nuclear [facilities](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) to the attention of the officials of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) (including the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Energy) who have authority to resolve such issues in an adequate and timely manner; and
- (4) an adequate number of qualified personnel of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) are assigned to oversee matters relating to nuclear safety at defense nuclear [facilities](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2) and enforce nuclear safety [standards](/usc/10/3011.md?p=3) at such [facilities](/usc/10/2700.md?p=2).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 119–60, div. C, title XXXI, § 3111(a), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1420.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 2732 of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(b)(1).