---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 321f"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "321f"
heading: "Nuclear incident response"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/321f"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Homeland Security Organization"
  - "Subchapter V — National Emergency Management"
---

# §321f. Nuclear incident response

- (a) **In general—** At the direction of the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) (in connection with an actual or threatened terrorist attack, [major disaster](/usc/6/101.md?p=14), or other [emergency](/usc/6/701.md?p=6) in the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A)), the Nuclear [Incident](/usc/6/677a.md?p=6) Response Team shall operate as an organizational unit of the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5). While so operating, the Nuclear [Incident](/usc/6/677a.md?p=6) Response Team shall be subject to the direction, authority, and control of the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16).
- (b) **Rule of construction—** Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to limit the ordinary responsibility of the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) of Energy and the [Administrator](/usc/6/311.md?p=1) of the Environmental Protection [Agency](/usc/6/311.md?p=2) for organizing, training, equipping, and utilizing their respective [entities](/usc/6/301c.md?p=2) in the Nuclear [Incident](/usc/6/677a.md?p=6) Response Team, or (subject to the provisions of this subchapter) from exercising direction, authority, and control over them when they are not operating as a unit of the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–296, title V, § 517, formerly § 504, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2213; renumbered § 517, Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 611(6), Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1395.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 314 of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 109–295.