Nuclear Regulation Reorganization and Reform Act of 1988

Summary

Nuclear Regulation Reorganization and Reform Act of 1988 - Title I: Reorganization and Reform of Nuclear Energy Regulation - Subtitle A: Nuclear Safety Agency - Establishes the Nuclear Safety Agency as an independent regulatory agency to succeed the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Sets forth the Agency's officers and administration, including an Administrator to be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. Abolishes the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to require the Administrator of the Nuclear Safety Agency to establish a licensing board to consider applications for the construction of nuclear waste repositories. Requires the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board to nominate persons for appointment to the licensing board. Subtitle B: Office of Inspector General - Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to establish an Office of Inspector General within the Agency. Subtitle C: Office of Investigations - Amends the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 to establish an Office of Investigations in the Agency to investigate possible violations of nuclear energy statutes within the Administrator's enforcement purview. Requires the Assistant Administrator to report Federal criminal law violations to the Attorney General. Requires the Agency and the Attorney General to coordinate their enforcement and prosecution activities. Subtitle D: Nuclear Reactor Safety Investigations Board - Establishes the Nuclear Reactor Safety Investigations Board within the Nuclear Safety Agency to independently investigate significant safety events arising out of activities at production or utilization facilities licensed by the Agency. Defines significant safety events which may have adverse effects on public health or safety. Requires the Board to submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the Administrator, who must respond to such report in writing. Mandates that the Board's recommendations and the Administrator's response be made available to the public and the Congress. Sets forth the Board's investigative parameters. Requires the Board to submit an annual activities report to the Congress. Transfers those Agency functions to the Board which the Administrator determines to be appropriate, but precludes the transfer of program operating responsibilities. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1988 through 1993. Subtitle E: Separability - Declares that the remainder of this title shall not be affected if any of its provisions or applications of its provisions is held invalid. Title II: Authorization of Appropriations for Fiscal Years 1988 and 1989 - Authorizes appropriations to the Nuclear Safety Agency for FY 1988 and 1989. Sets forth an appropriations allocation schedule. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 to change the nature of the parties required to give notice of nonconformance with safety regulations and laws from firm directors and responsible individuals to firms or individuals generally. Authorizes the Administrator to issue regulations to ensure compliance with safety regulations, requiring firms to implement procedures to identify, evaluate, and report defects. Subjects regulation violators to civil penalties. Amends the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to include within the scope of security-related safeguards information any generic studies, reports, and analyses containing information that would provide substantial assistance in compromising or negating a licensee's security measures to protect nuclear material or facilities or in targeting vital plant equipment. Mandates that certain low-level radioactive wastes be stored or disposed of only in facilities licensed by the Agency. Mandates that federally-operated facilities for such wastes be licensed only by the Agency. Requires the Administrator to: (1) submit a quarterly report to certain congressional committees on the status of the Agency's implementation of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act; and (2) prescribe regulations requiring production or utilization facility licensees to establish a drug testing program with respect to the unlawful use of alcohol or controlled substances by employees responsible for safety-sensitive functions. Outlines testing parameters. Requires such licensees to maintain a drug treatment rehabilitation program for their employees. Declares that this Act does not preempt State criminal law provisions which impose sanctions for damage to property or loss of life.

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2 official files

• Indefinitely postponed in Senate

  summary · EN · 8 August 1988

  Open at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 26 May 1988

  Open at official source

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