Procedural Rules for DOE Nuclear Activities, 94910-94914 [2016-31150]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 27, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 94910-94914]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31150]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 820

[Docket No. EA-RM-16-PRDNA]
RIN 1992-AA52


Procedural Rules for DOE Nuclear Activities

AGENCY: Office of Enterprise Assessments, Office of Enforcement, Office 
of Nuclear Safety Enforcement, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) is adopting a final rule to 
clarify that the Department may assess civil penalties against certain 
contractors and subcontractors for violations of the prohibition 
against retaliating against an employee who reports violations of law, 
mismanagement, waste, abuse, or dangerous/unsafe workplace conditions, 
among other protected activities, concerning nuclear safety (referred 
to as ``whistleblowers''). Specifically, this rule clarifies the 
definition of ``DOE Nuclear Safety Requirements'' and clarifies that 
the prohibition against whistleblower retaliation is a DOE Nuclear 
Safety Requirement to the extent that it concerns nuclear safety. This 
final rule is based on an earlier proposal the Department published on 
August 12, 2016.

DATES:  Effective Date: The effective date of this rule is January 26, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: The docket, which includes Federal Register notices and all 
comments received is available for review at https://www.regulations.gov. All documents in the docket are listed in the 
www.regulations.gov index. However, some documents listed in the index 
may not be publicly available, such as those containing information 
that is exempt from public disclosure. A link to the docket Web page 
can be found at: https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=DOE-HQ-2016-0021. 
The www.regulations.gov Web page contains simple instructions on how to 
access all documents, including public comments, available in the 
docket.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    Steven Simonson, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Enterprise 
Assessments/Germantown Building, 1000 Independence Ave. SW., 
Washington, DC 20585-1290. Phone: (301) 903-2816. Email: 
Steven.Simonson@hq.doe.gov.
    K.C. Michaels, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the General 
Counsel, 1000 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20585-0121. Phone: 
(202) 586-3430. Email: Kenneth.Michaels@hq.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

I. Authority and Background
II. Synopsis of the Final Rule
III. Response to Comments
IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review

I. Authority and Background

    Pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (AEA) (42 U.S.C. 2011 et 
seq.), DOE has issued regulations governing nuclear safety management 
(at 10 CFR part 830) and occupational radiation protection (at 10 CFR 
part 835). Section 234A of the AEA (42 U.S.C. 2282a) authorizes DOE to 
impose civil penalties for violations of these regulations. 
Specifically, section 234A authorizes civil penalties against 
contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers that are covered by an 
indemnification agreement under section 170.d. of the AEA (42 U.S.C. 
2210(d)) (commonly known as the Price-Anderson Act) that violate DOE 
rules, regulations, or orders ``related to nuclear safety.'' DOE has 
issued Procedural Rules for DOE Nuclear Activities at 10 CFR part 820 
(part 820), which establishes a process for imposing civil penalties 
under section 234A.
    Separate from part 820, DOE has also issued regulations at 10 CFR 
part 708 (part 708) that prohibit DOE contractors or subcontractors 
from retaliating against employees for reporting violations of law, 
rule or regulation, fraud, gross mismanagement, waste, abuse; danger to 
employees or the public; participating in Congressional or 
administrative proceedings; or refusing to participate in an activity 
that may constitute a violation of federal health and safety law or 
cause a reasonable fear of serious injury (referred to as 
``whistleblowers''). Part 708 establishes an affirmative duty on the 
part of contractors not to retaliate against whistleblowers, and 
establishes a process for an employee alleging retaliation to file a 
claim for reinstatement, transfer-preference, back-pay, legal fees, and 
other relief.
    On August 12, 2016, DOE published a Notice of Proposed rulemaking 
(NOPR) to amend part 820 to clarify the definition of ``DOE Nuclear 
Safety Requirements'' and to clarify that DOE may impose civil 
penalties against a contractor or subcontractor for violating the 
prohibition against whistleblower retaliation found in part 708, to the 
extent the violation concerns nuclear safety. 81 FR 53337.

II. Synopsis of the Final Rule

    This final rule revises the definition for ``DOE Nuclear Safety 
Requirements'' found in 10 CFR part 820 to identify the particular 
rules and regulations that DOE regards as DOE Nuclear Safety 
Requirements. Under the final rule, the following are enforceable DOE 
Nuclear Safety Requirements:

    10 CFR part 830 (nuclear safety management);
    10 CFR part 835 (occupational radiation protection);
    10 CFR 820.11 (information accuracy requirements);
    Compliance Orders issued pursuant to 10 CFR part 820, subpart C; 
and
    10 CFR 708.43 (duty of contractors not to retaliate against 
whistleblowers) to the extent that subject activities concern 
nuclear safety.

    In the NOPR, DOE proposed that Compliance Orders issued pursuant to 
10 CFR part 820, subpart C and each of the four listed rules and 
regulations are DOE Nuclear Safety Requirements ``to the extent that 
subject activities concern nuclear safety.'' In the final rule, DOE has 
moved this phrase so that it applies only to 10 CFR 708.43. Under 
section 234A of the AEA, DOE may impose civil penalties for violations 
of ``any applicable rule, regulation, or order related to nuclear 
safety.'' DOE believes that all of the activities subject to 10 CFR 
part 830, 10 CFR part 835, 10 CFR 820.11, and Compliance Orders issued 
pursuant to 10 CFR part 820, subpart C, have a direct connection to 
nuclear safety. Each of these rules is directed specifically at DOE 
activities that affect nuclear safety and therefore these rules 
``concern nuclear safety'' in all their applications. By contrast, 10 
CFR 708.43 is directed at all DOE activities, including those that have 
no connection to nuclear safety. Therefore, DOE is amending the 
definition of ``DOE Nuclear Safety Requirements'' to include 10 CFR 
part 830, 10 CFR part 835, 10 CFR 820.11, and Compliance Orders issued 
pursuant to 10 CFR part 820, subpart C, in all their applications and 
10 CFR 708.43 to the extent that activities subject to 10 CFR 708.43 
concern nuclear safety.
    DOE is also establishing a new section, 10 CFR 820.14, to provide 
specific requirements that apply to imposing civil penalties for a 
violation of the prohibition against whistleblower retaliation found in 
10 CFR 708.43. For example, the final rule provides that DOE will not 
initiate an investigation or take action with respect to an alleged act 
of retaliation by a DOE contractor until 180 days after an alleged 
violation occurs. The final rule further provides that DOE will suspend 
an investigation or other proceeding when an

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administrative or judicial proceeding commences based on the same 
alleged act of retaliation until 60 days after a final decision of an 
agency or court finds that a retaliation occurred, or otherwise makes a 
final disposition of the matter on procedural grounds without 
explicitly finding that retaliation did not occur. A final decision of 
an agency or court includes a final agency decision pursuant to 10 CFR 
part 708, a final decision or order of the Secretary of Labor pursuant 
to 29 CFR part 24, a decision by the Secretary of Energy upon a report 
by the Inspector General, or a decision by a federal or state court. 
The final rule makes clear that the commencement of an administrative 
or judicial proceeding shall not affect the Department's authority to 
take enforcement action for compliance with DOE Nuclear Safety 
Requirements other than 10 CFR 708.43.
    DOE explained in its proposed rule that ``it will not take any 
action under part 820 with respect to alleged retaliation until after 
the deadlines have passed for filing a claim under part 708 or 29 CFR 
part 24--i.e. 180 days after the alleged violation occurs'' and that if 
``an administrative or judicial proceeding is filed after DOE has 
already initiated any action under part 820, DOE will immediately 
suspend its activities under part 820 until the issuance of a final 
decision in the proceeding--including the exhaustion of appeals.'' The 
proposed rule stated that ``DOE will not take any action under part 820 
until sixty days after a final decision in an administrative or 
judicial proceeding finds that a retaliation occurred.'' DOE's intent 
was to ensure that its investigation did not run concurrent with a 
judicial or administrative proceeding examining the same facts. A 
similar situation exists where an administrative or judicial proceeding 
is dismissed on procedural grounds without an explicit finding whether 
retaliation in fact occurred. Under this scenario, there would be no 
risk of conflict with any judicial or administrative proceedings, and 
DOE would be unable to pursue its interest in preventing whistleblower 
retaliation even though no judicial or administrative proceeding had 
fully addressed the question of whether retaliation in fact occurred. 
Therefore, consistent with DOE's intent, this final rule states that 
DOE will suspend an investigation or other proceeding when an 
administrative or judicial proceeding commences based on the same 
alleged act of retaliation until 60 days after a final decision of an 
agency or court finds that retaliation occurred, or otherwise makes a 
final disposition of the matter on procedural grounds without 
explicitly finding that retaliation did not occur.
    Finally, DOE is revising its Whistleblower Enforcement Policy, 
found in appendix A to part 820. This appendix is a general statement 
of policy and is not binding on DOE or its contractors.

III. Response to Comments

    The Department received four comments in response to the proposed 
rule. After reviewing these comments, DOE has concluded that the rule 
should be finalized as proposed and without change. DOE's response to 
the comments is fully explained below.
    One commenter stated that the proposed rulemaking would 
inappropriately narrow DOE's authority to issue civil penalties for 
retaliation by limiting that authority to retaliation for raising 
concerns involving only nuclear safety. DOE disagrees that this rule 
will limit its authority in this manner. This final rule clarifies that 
DOE may issue civil penalties under part 820 for violations of the 
prohibition against whistleblower retaliation that concern nuclear 
safety. DOE's authority to issue civil penalties against contractors 
that retaliate against employees for reporting non-nuclear safety 
concerns or refusing to participate in an activity that the employees 
reasonably believe may cause serious injury to themselves or other 
employees is covered under a different regulation that is not affected 
by today's rule. Namely, subpart C to 10 CFR part 851, Worker Safety 
and Health Program, requires DOE contractors to establish procedures 
for workers to report job-related hazards, and to permit workers to 
stop work or decline to perform an assigned task because of a 
reasonable belief that the task poses an imminent risk of serious 
physical harm to workers, without fear of reprisal. Subpart E to part 
851 establishes the process for taking enforcement actions, including 
the issuance of civil penalties, against contractors that violate part 
851 requirements.
    One commenter identified a number of offenses for which DOE 
contractors should be subject to criminal penalties and questioned the 
independence of DOE personnel who oversee or may conduct investigations 
of DOE contractor activities. While these issues are outside the scope 
of this rulemaking, DOE notes that subpart F of part 820 already 
establishes provisions for the identification and disposition of 
potential criminal violations of the Atomic Energy Act or any 
applicable DOE Nuclear Safety Requirement. With respect to the 
independence of personnel handling enforcement functions, Sec.  820.4 
requires any DOE official with a financial or personal interest in a 
matter being addressed pursuant to the provisions of part 820 to 
withdraw from that action. This section also allows any interested 
person to request that DOE's General Counsel disqualify a DOE Official 
from a part 820 matter due to a conflict of interest.
    Another commenter agreed with DOE's general approach of deferring 
any enforcement activity under part 820 with respect to an alleged 
retaliation until after a final decision has been issued concerning any 
other proceeding addressing the same alleged act of retaliation. The 
commenter stated that given that multiple avenues are available for 
whistleblowers to pursue retaliation complaints and obtain relief, the 
Department should presume that no retaliation has occurred, and thus 
enforcement action is not warranted, unless an employee has submitted a 
retaliation complaint using one of these mechanisms. DOE does not agree 
that there should be a presumption that no retaliation has taken place 
unless and until an employee has submitted a complaint. The existence 
of multiple avenues for aggrieved employees to raise complaints does 
not guarantee that a complaint will be filed after every instance of 
retaliation. There could be many reasons an individual employee may 
choose not to file a complaint through one of these mechanisms, and DOE 
does not believe it is appropriate to draw conclusions from the mere 
fact that no complaints have been filed. DOE intends to exercise its 
enforcement discretion consistent with the final decision of an agency 
or court on matters of retaliation that concern nuclear safety. 
However, DOE retains the authority to investigate whether a contractor 
has violated a DOE Nuclear Safety Requirement in retaliating against an 
employee for raising a nuclear safety concern under appropriate 
circumstances, even if no complaint of retaliation has been filed.
    The commenter also suggested that DOE consider providing additional 
clarification regarding the escalation or mitigating factors the 
Department would consider in determining its enforcement penalties, 
particularly if this rulemaking is expected to result in an increase in 
enforcement activities. Based on historical trends in the number of 
cases of substantiated retaliation against DOE contractor and 
subcontractor employees who raise nuclear safety concerns, DOE does not 
expect any increase in enforcement activities. Further, DOE does not 
expect that this final rule will

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directly lead to an increase in enforcement activities. DOE believes 
that the factors that it considers when determining whether to escalate 
or mitigate any civil penalty are adequately described in section IX of 
appendix A to part 820 and in DOE's Enforcement Process Overview 
document that is available at https://energy.gov/ea/services/enforcement/enforcement-program-and-process-guidance-and-information. 
These same factors would be applied in any enforcement action for 
nuclear safety-related retaliation under part 820, in addition to those 
described in amended section XIII of appendix A of this rulemaking.
    One commenter stated that DOE's authority to issue civil penalties 
for cases of nuclear safety-related retaliation is inconsistent with 
the Energy Reorganization Act and 29 CFR part 24, which provide 
jurisdiction to the Department of Labor to consider complaints of 
retaliation by DOE contractors against contractor employees. The 
commenter stated that imposing a civil penalty under part 820 for a 
retaliation that the Department of Labor has already considered and 
awarded a remedy to the employee for would constitute a duplicate 
penalty for the same violation. DOE disagrees that a civil penalty 
imposed under part 820 for a retaliation that the Department of Labor 
has substantiated under 29 CFR part 24 constitutes a duplicate penalty. 
DOE sees these processes as complementary in that each process has a 
different type of remedy that serves different purposes. The allowable 
remedies under 29 CFR part 24 are designed to ``make the employee 
whole'' by providing reinstatement, transfer-preference, back-pay, and 
legal fees sufficient to compensate the employee for the harm. By 
contrast, part 820 provides for civil penalties in order to hold a 
contractor accountable for violating a DOE Nuclear Safety Requirement 
and to deter future retaliation. This distinction is also true with 
respect to the DOE Contractor Employee Protection Program under part 
708 and the Pilot Program for Enhancement of Employee Whistleblower 
Protection (41 U.S.C. 4712), neither of which provide for imposing a 
civil penalty on a contractor for violating a requirement that 
prohibits retaliation.
    The commenter also stated that DOE has other sufficient mechanisms 
available, such as contract fee reductions, to address any ``chilled 
workplace'' or other leadership concerns. Under this final rule, DOE 
retains other mechanisms, including contract fee reductions, to respond 
to contractor violations of DOE Nuclear Safety Requirements. Although 
these mechanisms may be sufficient in a particular case to address 
``chilled workplace'' concerns, DOE believes that there may be 
circumstances where civil penalties under part 820 are appropriate and 
necessary to ensure that future violations of the prohibition against 
whistleblower retaliation are deterred.
    Finally, the commenter noted that the proposed rule does not 
address situations in which a DOE federal employee causes, demands or 
directs a contractor to retaliate against one of its employees for 
whistleblowing. DOE is not aware of any instance where a DOE employee 
was found to have caused or contributed to a retaliation by a 
contractor against a contractor employee. Nonetheless, DOE notes that 
section IX.8 of appendix A to part 820 already discusses DOE's approach 
to enforcement for cases wherein DOE may have contributed to a 
contractor's violation of a DOE Nuclear Safety Requirement. This final 
rule does not amend or alter this provision.

IV. Procedural Issues and Regulatory Review

A. Review Under Executive Order 12866

    This final rule has been determined not to be a significant 
regulatory action under Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning 
and Review,'' 58 FR 51735 (Oct. 4, 1993). Accordingly, this notice of 
proposed rulemaking was not subject to review by the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and 
Budget.

B. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires 
preparation of an initial regulatory flexibility analysis for any rule 
that by law must be proposed for public comment, unless the agency 
certifies that the rule, if promulgated, will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. As required 
by Executive Order 13272, ``Proper Consideration of Small Entities in 
Agency Rulemaking,'' 67 FR 53461 (Aug. 16, 2002), DOE published 
procedures and policies on February 19, 2003, to ensure that the 
potential impacts of its rules on small entities are properly 
considered during the rulemaking process. 68 FR 7990. DOE has made its 
procedures and policies available on the Office of the General 
Counsel's Web site (https://energy.gov/gc/office-general-counsel).
    DOE has reviewed this rule under the provisions of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act and the procedures and policies published on February 
19, 2003. The final rule amends DOE's Procedural Rules for DOE Nuclear 
Activities to clarify the definition of ``DOE Nuclear Safety 
Requirements'' and to clarify that DOE may assess civil penalties 
against certain contractors and subcontractors for violations of the 
prohibition against retaliating against whistleblowers. While the 
amended part 820 would expose small entities that are contractors and 
subcontractors to potential liability for civil penalties, DOE does not 
expect that a substantial number of these entities will violate a DOE 
Nuclear Safety Requirement resulting in the imposition of a civil 
penalty. On this basis, DOE certifies that this final rule would not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. Accordingly, DOE has not prepared a regulatory flexibility 
analysis for this rulemaking. DOE's certification and supporting 
statement of factual basis will be provided to the Chief Counsel for 
Advocacy of the Small Business Administration pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
605(b).

C. Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule does not impose new information or record keeping 
requirements. Accordingly, OMB clearance is not required under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

D. National Environmental Policy Act

    DOE has determined that this rule is covered under the Categorical 
Exclusion in DOE's National Environmental Policy Act regulations at 
paragraph A.5 of appendix A to subpart D, 10 CFR part 1021, which 
applies to rulemaking that interprets or amends an existing rule or 
regulation without changing the environmental effect of the rule or 
regulation that is being amended. The final rule amends DOE's 
regulations on civil penalties with respect to certain DOE contractors 
and subcontractors in order to clarify that civil penalties are 
available for violations of the prohibition against whistleblower 
retaliation found in Sec.  708.43 that concern nuclear safety. These 
amendments are procedural and do not change the environmental effect of 
part 820. Accordingly, neither an environmental assessment nor an 
environmental impact statement is required.

E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 1531 
et seq., requires each Federal agency, to

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the extent permitted by law, to prepare a detailed assessment of the 
effects of any Federal mandate in an agency rule that may result in 
costs to State, local, or tribal governments, or to the private sector, 
of $100 million or more (adjusted annually for inflation) in any one 
year. 2 U.S.C. 1532. While the final rule may expose DOE contractors 
and subcontractors to potential liability for civil penalties for 
retaliating against a whistleblower in connection with a protected 
activity relating to nuclear safety, DOE does not expect that these 
civil penalties will approach $100 million in any single year. 
Therefore, the requirements of Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act of 1995 do not apply.

F. Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 1999

    Section 654 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations 
Act, 1999, 5 U.S.C. 601 note, requires Federal agencies to issue a 
Family Policymaking Assessment for any proposed rule that may affect 
family wellbeing. While this final rule would apply to individuals who 
may be members of a family, the rule would not have any impact on the 
autonomy or integrity of the family as an institution. Accordingly, DOE 
has concluded that it is not necessary to prepare a Family Policymaking 
Assessment.

G. Executive Order 13132

    Executive Order 13132, ``Federalism,'' 64 FR 43255 (Aug. 4, 1999), 
imposes certain requirements on agencies formulating and implementing 
policies or regulations that preempt State law or that have federalism 
implications. Agencies are required to examine the constitutional and 
statutory authority supporting any action that would limit the 
policymaking discretion of the States and carefully assess the 
necessity for such actions. DOE has examined this final rule and has 
determined that it does not preempt State law and does not have a 
substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between 
the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power 
and responsibilities among the various levels of government. No further 
action is required by Executive Order 13132.

H. Executive Order 12988

    With respect to the review of existing regulations and the 
promulgation of new regulations, section 3(a) of Executive Order 12988, 
``Civil Justice Reform,'' 61 FR 4729 (Feb. 7, 1996), imposes on 
Executive agencies the general duty to adhere to the following 
requirements: (1) Eliminate drafting errors and ambiguity; (2) write 
regulations to minimize litigation; and (3) provide a clear legal 
standard for affected conduct rather than a general standard and 
promote simplification and burden reduction. With regard to the review 
required by section 3(a), section 3(b) of Executive Order 12988 
specifically requires that Executive agencies make every reasonable 
effort to ensure that the regulation: (1) Clearly specifies the 
preemptive effect, if any; (2) clearly specifies any effect on existing 
Federal law or regulation; (3) provides a clear legal standard for 
affected conduct while promoting simplification and burden reduction; 
(4) specifies the retroactive effect, if any; (5) adequately defines 
key terms; and (6) addresses other important issues affecting clarity 
and general draftsmanship under any guidelines issued by the Attorney 
General. Section 3(c) of Executive Order 12988 requires Executive 
agencies to review regulations in light of applicable standards in 
section 3(a) and section 3(b) to determine whether they are met or it 
is unreasonable to meet one or more of them. DOE has completed the 
required review and determined that, to the extent permitted by law, 
this final rule meets the relevant standards of Executive Order 12988.

I. Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2001

    The Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2001, 44 
U.S.C. 3516 note, provides for agencies to review most disseminations 
of information to the public under guidelines established by each 
agency pursuant to general guidelines issued by OMB. OMB's guidelines 
were published at 67 FR 8452 (Feb. 22, 2002), and DOE's guidelines were 
published at 67 FR 62446 (Oct. 7, 2002). DOE has reviewed this final 
rule under the OMB and DOE guidelines and has concluded that it is 
consistent with applicable policies in those guidelines.

J. Executive Order 13211

    Executive Order 13211, ``Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use,'' 66 FR 28355 
(May 22, 2001), requires Federal agencies to prepare and submit to the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) a Statement of 
Energy Effects for any proposed significant energy action. A 
``significant energy action'' is defined as any action by an agency 
that promulgates or is expected to lead to promulgation of a final 
rule, and that: (1) Is a significant regulatory action under Executive 
Order 12866, or any successor order; and (2) is likely to have a 
significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of 
energy, or (3) is designated by the Administrator of OIRA as a 
significant energy action. For any proposed significant energy action, 
the agency must give a detailed statement of any adverse effects on 
energy supply, distribution, or use should the proposal be implemented, 
and of reasonable alternatives to the action and their expected 
benefits on energy supply, distribution, and use. This regulatory 
action has been determined to not be a significant regulatory action, 
and it would not have an adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or 
use of energy. Thus, this action is not a significant energy action. 
Accordingly, DOE has not prepared a Statement of Energy Effects.

K. Congressional Notification

    As required by 5 U.S.C. 801, DOE will report to Congress on the 
promulgation of this rule prior to its effective date. The report will 
state that it has been determined that the rule is not a ``major rule'' 
as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

L. Approval of the Office of the Secretary

    The Secretary of Energy has approved the publication of this final 
rule.

List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 820

    Administrative practice and procedure, Enforcement, Government 
contracts, Nuclear safety, Penalties, Whistleblowing.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 19, 2016.
Glenn S. Podonsky,
Director, Office of Enterprise Assessments.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, DOE hereby amends part 820 
of chapter III of title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations as set 
forth below:

PART 820--PROCEDURAL RULES FOR DOE NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES

0
1. The authority citation for part 820 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  42 U.S.C. 2201; 2282(a); 7191; 28 U.S.C. 2461 note; 
50 U.S.C. 2410.


0
2. Section 820.2 is amended by revising the definition for ``DOE 
Nuclear Safety Requirements'' to read as follows:


Sec.  820.2   Definitions.

* * * * *
    DOE Nuclear Safety Requirements means the set of rules, 
regulations, orders, and other requirements relating to nuclear safety 
adopted by DOE to govern the conduct of persons in connection with any 
DOE nuclear

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activity and includes any program, plan, or other provision required to 
implement these rules, regulations, orders, or other requirements. DOE 
Nuclear Safety Requirements include the following:
    (i) 10 CFR part 830;
    (ii) 10 CFR part 835;
    (iii) 10 CFR 820.11;
    (iv) Compliance Orders issued pursuant to 10 CFR part 820, subpart 
C; and
    (v) 10 CFR 708.43, to the extent that subject activities concern 
nuclear safety.
* * * * *

0
3. Section 820.14 is added to subpart A to read as follows:


Sec.  820.14   Whistleblower protection.

    (a) Covered acts. An act of retaliation (as defined in 10 CFR 
708.2) by a DOE contractor, prohibited by 10 CFR 708.43, that results 
from a DOE contractor employee's involvement in an activity listed in 
10 CFR 708.5(a) through (c) may constitute a violation of a DOE Nuclear 
Safety Requirement if it concerns nuclear safety.
    (b) Commencement of investigation. The Director may not initiate an 
investigation or take any other action under this part with respect to 
an alleged act of retaliation by a DOE contractor until 180 days after 
an alleged violation of 10 CFR 708.43 occurs.
    (c) Administrative or judicial proceedings. The Director shall 
immediately suspend any ongoing activities under this part and suspend 
any time limits under this part when an administrative or judicial 
proceeding commences based on the same alleged act of retaliation. 
While an administrative or judicial proceeding, including appeals, is 
pending, the Director may not exercise any authority under this part 
based on an alleged violation of 10 CFR 708.43, including issuing 
enforcement letters, subpoenas, orders to compel attendance, Consent 
Orders, Preliminary Notices of Violation, or Final Notices of 
Violation. Once such a proceeding commences, the Director shall not 
conduct any activities under this part until sixty days after a final 
decision of an agency or court finds that a retaliation occurred, or 
otherwise makes a final disposition of the matter on procedural grounds 
without explicitly finding that retaliation did not occur.
    (d) Final decision. For the purposes of this section, a final 
decision of an agency or court includes any of the following:
    (1) A final agency decision pursuant to 10 CFR part 708;
    (2) A final decision or order of the Secretary of Labor pursuant to 
29 CFR part 24;
    (3) A decision by the Secretary upon a report by the Inspector 
General;
    (4) A decision by a federal or state court.
    (e) Evidentiary record. If a final decision of an agency or court 
finds that retaliation occurred, the Director may obtain and use 
information collected as part of those proceedings. The Director has 
discretion to give appropriate weight to information obtained from 
these proceedings and to initiate and conduct further investigation if 
the Director deems necessary, particularly with regard to the 
relationship between the retaliation and nuclear safety.
    (f) Underlying nuclear safety requirements. Notwithstanding the 
commencement of an administrative or judicial proceeding based on an 
alleged act of retaliation, this section shall not prevent the Director 
from taking any action consistent with this part regarding compliance 
with DOE Nuclear Safety Requirements other than 10 CFR 708.43.

0
4. Section 820.20 is amended by revising paragraphs (a) and (b) to read 
as follows:


Sec.  820.20   Purpose and scope.

    (a) Purpose. This subpart establishes the procedures for 
investigating the nature and extent of violations of DOE Nuclear Safety 
Requirements, for determining whether a violation of DOE Nuclear Safety 
Requirements has occurred, for imposing an appropriate remedy, and for 
adjudicating the assessment of a civil penalty.
    (b) Basis for civil penalties. DOE may assess civil penalties 
against any person subject to the provisions of this part who has 
entered into an agreement of indemnification under 42 U.S.C. 2210(d) 
(or any subcontractor or supplier thereto), unless exempted from civil 
penalties as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, on the basis of 
a violation of a DOE Nuclear Safety Requirement.
* * * * *

0
5. Appendix A to part 820 is amended by revising section XIII to read 
as follows:

Appendix A to Part 820--General Statement of Enforcement Policy

* * * * *

XIII. Whistleblower Enforcement Policy

    a. DOE contractors may not retaliate against any employee 
because the employee has taken any actions listed in 10 CFR 708.5(a) 
through(c), including disclosing information, participating in 
proceedings, or refusing to participate in certain activities. DOE 
contractor employees may seek relief for allegations of retaliation 
through one of several mechanisms, including filing a complaint with 
DOE pursuant to 10 CFR part 708 (part 708), the Department of Labor 
(DOL) under sec. 211 of the Energy Reorganization Act (sec. 211), 
implemented in 29 CFR part 24, or the DOE Inspector General (IG).
    b. An act of retaliation by a DOE contractor, prohibited by 10 
CFR 708.43, that results from a DOE contractor employee's 
involvement in an activity listed in 10 CFR 708.5(a) through (c), 
may constitute a violation of a DOE Nuclear Safety Requirement under 
10 CFR part 820 if it concerns nuclear safety. To avoid the 
potential for inconsistency with one of the mechanisms available to 
an aggrieved DOE contractor employee alleging retaliation referenced 
in section XIII.a, the Director will not take any action under this 
part with respect to an alleged violation of 10 CFR 708.43 until a 
request for relief under one of these mechanisms, if any, has been 
fully adjudicated, including appeals. With respect to an alleged 
retaliation, the Director will generally only take action that is 
consistent with the findings of a final decision of an agency or 
court. If a final decision finds that retaliation occurred, the 
Department will consider whether that retaliation constitutes a 
violation of Sec.  708.43, and if so, whether to take action under 
part 820. If a final decision finds that no retaliation occurred, 
the Director will generally not take any action under part 820 with 
respect to the alleged retaliation absent significant new 
information that was not available in the prior proceeding. If a 
final decision dismisses a complaint on procedural grounds without 
explicitly finding that retaliation did not occur, the Director may 
take further action under part 820 that is not inconsistent with the 
final decision.
    c. DOE encourages its contractors to cooperate in resolving 
whistleblower complaints raised by contractor employees in a prompt 
and equitable manner. Accordingly, in considering what remedy is 
appropriate for an act of retaliation concerning nuclear safety, the 
Director will take into account the extent to which a contractor 
cooperated in proceedings for remedial relief.
    d. In considering what remedy is appropriate for an act of 
retaliation concerning nuclear safety, the Director will also 
consider the egregiousness of the particular case including the 
level of management involved in the alleged retaliation and the 
specificity of the acts of retaliation.
    e. When the Director undertakes an investigation of an 
allegation of DOE contractor retaliation against an employee under 
part 820, the Director will apprise persons interviewed and 
interested parties that the investigative activity is being taken 
pursuant to the nuclear safety procedures of part 820 and not 
pursuant to the procedures of part 708.

[FR Doc. 2016-31150 Filed 12-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P