---
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"
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 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/10/6101.md?p=4) and enforcement of nuclear safety standards at such [facilities](/usc/10/227.md?p=b-2) maintain independence from officials who are engaged in, or who are advising persons who are engaged in, management of such [facilities](/usc/10/227.md?p=b-2);
- (2) the independent, internal oversight functions 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/10/6101.md?p=4);
  - (B) the assessment of the effectiveness of [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) program offices in carrying out programs relating to the environment, safety, health, and security at [defense nuclear facilities](/usc/10/6101.md?p=4);
  - (C) the provision to the Secretary of oversight reports that—
    - (i) contain validated technical information; and
    - (ii) provide a clear analysis of the extent to which line programs governing [defense nuclear facilities](/usc/10/6101.md?p=4) meet applicable goals for the environment, safety, health, and security at such [facilities](/usc/10/227.md?p=b-2); and
  - (D) the development of clear performance standards to be used in assessing the adequacy of the programs 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/10/6101.md?p=4) to the attention of the officials of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) (including the Secretary 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/10/6101.md?p=4) and enforce nuclear safety standards at such [facilities](/usc/10/227.md?p=b-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).