United States Code

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§2512. Management structure for nuclear security enterprise

(a) In general

The Administrator shall establish a management structure for the nuclear security enterprise in accordance with the National Nuclear Security Administration Act (50 U.S.C. 2401 et seq.).

(b) National Nuclear Security Administration Council

(1) The Administrator shall establish a council to be known as the "National Nuclear Security Administration Council". The Council may advise the Administrator on—

(A) scientific and technical issues relating to policy matters;

(B) operational concerns;

(D) the development of priorities relating to the mission and operations of the Administration and the nuclear security enterprise; and

(E) such other matters as the Administrator determines appropriate.

(2) The Council shall be composed of the directors of the national security laboratories and the nuclear weapons production facilities.

(3) The Council may provide the Administrator or the Secretary of Energy recommendations—

(A) for improving the governance, management, effectiveness, and efficiency of the Administration; and

(B) relating to any other matter in accordance with paragraph (1).

(4) Not later than 60 days after the date on which any recommendation under paragraph (3) is received, the Administrator or the Secretary, as the case may be, shall respond to the Council with respect to whether such recommendation will be implemented and the reasoning for implementing or not implementing such recommendation.

(Pub. L. 107–314, div. D, title XLI, §4102, formerly Pub. L. 104–201, div. C, title XXXI, §3140, Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2833; renumbered Pub. L. 107–314, div. D, title XLI, §4102, and amended Pub. L. 108–136, div. C, title XXXI, §3141(d)(3), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1757; Pub. L. 112–239, div. C, title XXXI, §3113(a), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 2169; Pub. L. 113–291, div. C, title XXXI, §3142(b), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3900.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The National Nuclear Security Administration Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 106–65, div. C, title XXXII, Oct. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 953, which is classified principally to chapter 41 (§2401 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2401 of this title and Tables.

Codification

Section was formerly set out as a note under section 7252 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 108–136.

Amendments

2014—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 113–291, §3142(b)(1), struck out "for improving the" after "recommendations" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(3)(A). Pub. L. 113–291, §3142(b)(2), inserted "for improving the" before "governance".

Subsec. (b)(3)(B). Pub. L. 113–291, §3142(b)(3), inserted "relating to" before "any other".

2013—Pub. L. 112–239 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to reorganization of field activities and management of national security functions.

2003—Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 108–136, §3141(d)(3)(D), substituted "January 21, 1997," for "120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,".

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Monitoring of Industrial Base for Nuclear Weapons Components, Subsystems, and Materials

Pub. L. 116–283, div. C, title XXXI, §3113, Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4378, as amended by Pub. L. 117–81, div. C, title XXXI, §3135, Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2231, provided that:

"(a) Designation of Official.—Not later than March 1, 2021, the Administrator for Nuclear Security shall designate a senior official within the National Nuclear Security Administration to be responsible for monitoring the industrial base that supports the nuclear weapons components, subsystems, and materials of the Administration, including—

"(1) the consistent monitoring of the current status of the industrial base;

"(2) tracking of industrial base issues over time; and

"(3) proactively identifying gaps or risks in specific areas relating to the industrial base.

"(b) Provision of Resources.—The Administrator shall ensure that the official designated under subsection (a) is provided with resources sufficient to conduct the monitoring required by that subsection.

"(c) Consultations.—The Administrator, acting through the official designated under subsection (a), shall, to the extent practicable and beneficial, in conducting the monitoring required by that subsection, consult with—

"(1) officials of the Department of Defense who are members of the Nuclear Weapons Council established under section 179 of title 10, United States Code;

"(2) officials of the Department of Defense responsible for the defense industrial base; and

"(3) other components of the Department of Energy that rely on similar components, subsystems, or materials.

"(d) Briefings.—

"(1) Initial briefing.—Not later than April 1, 2021, the Administrator shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on the designation of the official required by subsection (a), including on—

"(A) the responsibilities assigned to that official; and

"(B) the plan for providing that official with resources sufficient to conduct the monitoring required by subsection (a).

"(2) Subsequent briefings.—Not later than April 1, 2022, and annually thereafter through 2024, the Administrator shall provide to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a briefing on activities carried out under this section that includes an assessment of the progress made by the official designated under subsection (a) in conducting the monitoring required by that subsection.

"(e) Reports.—The Administrator, acting through the official designated under subsection (a), shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives, contemporaneously with each briefing required by subsection (d)(2), a report—

"(1) identifying actual or potential risks to or specific gaps in any element of the industrial base that supports the nuclear weapons components, subsystems, or materials of the National Nuclear Security Administration;

"(2) describing the actions the Administration is taking to further assess, characterize, and prioritize such risks and gaps;

"(3) describing mitigating actions, if any, the Administration has underway or planned to mitigate any such risks or gaps;

"(4) setting forth the anticipated timelines and resources needed for such mitigating actions; and

"(5) describing the nature of any coordination with or burden sharing by other departments or agencies of the Federal Government or the private sector to address such risks and gaps."

Common Financial Reporting System for the Nuclear Security Enterprise

Pub. L. 114–328, div. C, title XXXI, §3113, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2757, provided that:

"(a) In General.—By not later than four years after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2016], the Administrator for Nuclear Security shall, in consultation with the National Nuclear Security Administration Council established by section 4102(b) of the Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C. 2512(b)), complete, to the extent practicable, the implementation of a common financial reporting system for the nuclear security enterprise.

"(b) Elements.—The common financial reporting system implemented pursuant to subsection (a) shall include the following:

"(1) Common data reporting requirements for work performed using funds of the National Nuclear Security Administration, including reporting of financial data by standardized labor categories, labor hours, functional elements, and cost elements.

"(2) A common work breakdown structure for the Administration that aligns contractor work breakdown structures with the budget structure of the Administration.

"(3) Definitions and methodologies for identifying and reporting costs for programs of records and base capabilities within the Administration.

"(4) A capability to leverage, where appropriate, the Defense Cost Analysis Resource Center of the Office of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation of the Department of Defense using historical costing data by the Administration.

"(c) Reports.—

"(1) In general.—Not later than March 1, 2017, and annually thereafter, the Administrator shall, in consultation with the National Nuclear Security Administration Council, submit to the congressional defense committees [Committees on Armed Services and Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives] a report on progress of the Administration toward implementing a common financial reporting system for the nuclear security enterprise as required by subsection (a).

"(2) Report.—Each report under this subsection shall include the following:

"(A) A summary of activities, accomplishments, challenges, benefits, and costs related to the implementation of a common financial reporting system for the nuclear security enterprise during the year preceding the year in which such report is submitted.

"(B) A summary of planned activities in connection with the implementation of a common financial reporting system for the nuclear security enterprise in the year in which such report is submitted.

"(C) A description of any anticipated modifications to the schedule for implementing a common financial reporting system for the nuclear security enterprise, including an update on possible risks, challenges, and costs related to such implementation.

"(3) Termination.—No report is required under this subsection after the completion of the implementation of a common financial reporting system for the nuclear security enterprise.

"(d) Nuclear Security Enterprise Defined.—In this section, the term 'nuclear security enterprise' has the meaning given that term in section 4002 of the Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C. 2501)."

Industry Best Practices in Operations at National Nuclear Security Administration Facilities and Sites

Pub. L. 114–328, div. C, title XXXI, §3118, Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2762, authorized the Administrator for Nuclear Security to establish within the National Nuclear Security Administration a committee to identify and oversee the implementation of best practices of industry in the operations of the facilities and sites of the Administration. The Administrator would submit to the appropriate congressional committees an annual report on the activities of the committee during the preceding calendar year not later than 60 days after the date on which the budget of the President for a fiscal year after fiscal year 2017 was submitted to Congress pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 31. The committee would terminate after the submittal of the annual report that covered 2021.

Governance and Management of Nuclear Security Enterprise

Pub. L. 114–92, div. C, title XXXI, §3137, Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1213, provided that:

"(a) Sense of Congress.—It is the sense of Congress that—

"(1) correcting the longstanding problems with the governance and management of the nuclear security enterprise will require robust, personal, and long-term engagement by the President, the Secretary of Energy, the Administrator for Nuclear Security, and leaders from the appropriate congressional committees;

"(2) recent and past studies of the governance and management of the nuclear security enterprise have provided a list of reasonable, practical, and actionable steps that the Secretary and the Administrator should take to make the nuclear security enterprise more efficient and more effective; and

"(3) lasting and effective change to the nuclear security enterprise will require personal engagement by senior leaders, a clear plan, and mechanisms for ensuring follow-through and accountability.

"(b) Implementation Plan.—

"(1) Implementation action team.—(A) The Secretary and the Administrator shall jointly establish a team of senior officials from the Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration to develop and carry out an implementation plan to reform the governance and management of the nuclear security enterprise to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the nuclear security enterprise. Such plan shall be developed and implemented in accordance with the National Nuclear Security Administration Act (50 U.S.C. 2401 et seq.), the Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.), and any other provision of law.

"(B) The team established under paragraph (1) shall be co-chaired by the Deputy Secretary of Energy and the Administrator.

"(C) In developing and carrying out the implementation plan, the team shall consult with the implementation assessment panel established under subsection (c)(1).

"(2) Elements.—The implementation plan developed under paragraph (1)(A) shall address all recommendations contained in the covered study (except such recommendations that require legislative action to carry out) by identifying specific actions, milestones, timelines, and responsible personnel to implement such plan.

"(3) Submission.—Not later than March 31, 2016, the Secretary and the Administrator shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees the implementation plan developed under paragraph (1)(A).

"(c) Implementation Assessment Panel.—

"(1) Agreement.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 25, 2015], the Administrator shall seek to enter into a joint agreement with the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Public Administration to establish a panel of external, independent experts to evaluate the implementation plan developed under subsection (b)(1)(A) and the implementation of such plan.

"(2) Duties.—The panel established under paragraph (1) shall—

"(A) provide guidance to the Secretary and the Administrator with respect to the implementation plan developed under subsection (b)(1)(A), including how such plan compares or contrasts with the covered study;

"(B) track the implementation of such plan; and

"(C) assess the effectiveness of such plan.

"(3) Reports.—(A) Not later than July 1, 2016, the panel established under paragraph (1) shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees, the Secretary, and the Administrator an initial assessment of the implementation plan developed under subsection (b)(1)(A), including with respect to the completeness of the plan, how the plan aligns with the intent and recommendations made by the covered study, and the prospects for success for the plan.

"(B) Beginning February 28, 2017, and semiannually thereafter through 2020, the panel established under paragraph (1) shall brief the appropriate congressional committees, the Secretary, and the Administrator on the efforts of the Secretary and the Administrator to implement the implementation plan developed under subsection (b)(1)(A).

"(C) Not later than September 30, 2020, the panel established under paragraph (1) shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees, the Secretary, and the Administrator a final report on the efforts of the Secretary and the Administrator to implement the implementation plan developed under subsection (b)(1)(A), including an assessment of the effectiveness of the reform efforts under such plan and whether further action is needed.

"(4) Cooperation.—The Secretary and the Administrator shall provide to the panel established under paragraph (1) full and timely access to all information, personnel, and systems of the Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration that the panel determines necessary to carry out this subsection.

"(d) Definitions.—In this section:

"(1) Appropriate congressional committees.—The term 'appropriate congressional committees' means—

"(A) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; and

"(B) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.

"(2) Covered study.—The term 'covered study' means the following:

"(A) The final report of the Congressional Advisory Panel on the Governance of the Nuclear Security Enterprise established by section 3166 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112–239; 126 Stat. 2208).

"(B) Any other study not conducted by the Secretary or the Administrator that the Secretary determines appropriate for purposes of this section.

"(3) Nuclear security enterprise.—The term 'nuclear security enterprise' has the meaning given that term in section 4002(6) of the Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C. 2501(6)).

"(e) Rules of Construction.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize any action—

"(1) in contravention of section 3220 of the National Nuclear Security Administration Act (50 U.S.C. 2410); or

"(2) that would undermine or weaken health, safety, or security."

Clarification of Role of Secretary of Energy

Pub. L. 113–66, div. C, title XXXI, §3141, Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 1069, provided that: "The amendment made by section 3113 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (Public Law 112–239; 126 Stat. 2169) to section 4102 of the Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C. 2512) may not be construed as affecting the authority of the Secretary of Energy, in carrying out national security programs, with respect to the management, planning, and oversight of the National Nuclear Security Administration or as affecting the delegation by the Secretary of authority to carry out such activities, as set forth under subsection (a) of such section 4102 as it existed before the amendment made by such section 3113."