---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 16279c"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "16279c"
heading: "Organization and administration of programs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/16279c"
units:
  - "Chapter 149 — National Energy Policy and Programs"
  - "Subchapter IX — Research and Development"
  - "Part E — Nuclear Energy"
---

# §16279c. Organization and administration of programs

- (a) **Coordination—** In carrying out this part, the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall coordinate activities, and effectively manage crosscutting research priorities across programs of the [Department](/usc/42/15801.md?p=1) and other relevant Federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), including the [National Laboratories](/usc/42/15801.md?p=3).
- (b) **Collaboration—**
  - (1) **In general—** In carrying out this part, the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall collaborate with industry, [National Laboratories](/usc/42/15801.md?p=3), other relevant Federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), institutions of higher education, including minority-serving institutions and research reactors, Tribal entities, including Alaska Native [Corporations](/usc/42/2297h.md?p=2), and international bodies with relevant scientific and technical expertise.
  - (2) **Participation—** To the extent practicable, the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall encourage research [projects](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) that promote collaboration between entities specified in [paragraph (1)](#b-1).
- (c) **Dissemination of results and public availability—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall, except to the extent protected from disclosure under [section 552(b) of title 5](/usc/5/552.md?p=b), publish the results of [projects](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12) supported under this part through [Department](/usc/42/15801.md?p=1) websites, reports, databases, training materials, and industry conferences, including information discovered after the completion of such [projects](/usc/42/16371.md?p=12).
- (d) **Education and outreach—** In carrying out the activities described in this part, the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall support education and outreach activities to disseminate information and promote public understanding of nuclear energy.
- (e) **Technical assistance—** In carrying out this part, for the purposes of supporting technical, nonhardware, and information-based advances in nuclear energy development and operations, the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall also conduct technical assistance and analysis activities, including activities that support commercial application of nuclear energy in rural, Tribal, and low-income communities.
- (f) **Program review—** At least annually, all programs in this part shall be subject to an annual review by the Nuclear Energy [Advisory Committee](/usc/42/17061.md?p=2) of the [Department](/usc/42/15801.md?p=1) or other independent entity, as appropriate.
- (g) **Sensitive information—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4) shall not publish any information generated under this part that is detrimental to national security, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/15801.md?p=4).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–58, title IX, § 959C, as added Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title II, § 2006(a), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2471.)