Department of Energy Nuclear Transparency Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9084
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Energy
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-02: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-18T19:32:13Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation aims to increase public transparency regarding the Department of Energy's (DOE) oversight and authorization activities for certain high-hazard nuclear facilities.
Key Provisions
- Public announcements for directive changes: Within 24 hours of altering any directive or safety standard for covered facilities, the Secretary of Energy must post an announcement on a DOE public website that includes a summary of the changes.
- Public announcements for safety analyses: Within 24 hours of issuing a preliminary documented safety analysis or documented safety analysis, the Secretary must post an announcement that includes the full analysis, except for any commercially sensitive information that may be redacted.
- Public announcements for authorizations: Within 24 hours of entering an agreement to authorize a covered facility, the Secretary must post details of the agreement, including any conditions.
- Annual congressional report: By January 31 each year, the Secretary must submit a report to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee detailing all authorization activities from the prior calendar year.
- Definitions: "Covered DOE nuclear facility" refers to Hazard Category 1, 2, and 3 facilities under DOE authority per the Atomic Energy Act. "Documented safety analysis" and "preliminary documented safety analysis" carry the meanings from existing DOE regulations.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill introduces new mandatory public disclosure timelines and requirements for DOE actions that previously had no statutory public notice obligations. It does not repeal or amend existing regulations but adds a layer of immediate transparency on top of current practices.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Requires the DOE to establish new rapid public posting processes, potentially increasing administrative workload and standardizing disclosure practices.
- Citizens: Provides faster public access to information on nuclear safety standards, analyses, and facility authorizations.
- International relations: No direct effects are specified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Department of Energy (primary implementing agency).
- Congressional oversight committees (recipients of the annual report).
- Operators and contractors of covered nuclear facilities (subject to the new disclosure rules and possible redactions for commercial information).
- The general public (beneficiaries of increased access to safety-related documents).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The measure strengthens congressional and public oversight of executive branch nuclear activities without altering core authorities under the Atomic Energy Act. It raises no apparent constitutional issues but could influence future debates on the balance between operational security, commercial confidentiality, and public right-to-know in nuclear policy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-02: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-06-02: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-02: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Department of Energy Nuclear Transparency Act — issued 2026-06-02 — PDF (4 pages)