DOE PROPOSES CREATING NEW NUKE SAFETY OFFICE

摘要

The Department of Energy's Office of Health, Safety and Security is looking to create a new nuclear safety office in Fiscal Year 2012 as part of a broader DOE effort to increase nuclear safety oversight. The proposal was briefly outlined in DOE's FY 2012 budget request that was submitted to Congress last month, but DOE has declined interview requests and inquiries for further comment on the proposals. Much of the details of the new proposals remain unclear, such as how a new nuclear safety office would fit into the structure of HSS, which already has an Office of Nuclear Safety, Quality Assurance and Environment with a sub-office for Nuclear Safety Policy and Assistance; as well as a separate Office of Independent Oversight. It also remains unclear how, and to what degree, DOE plans to increase penalties for potential nuclear safety violations. "HSS will expand the independent nuclear safety reviews of new and modified nuclear facilities, and then validate the implementation of its findings.