General Provisions

10 C.F.R. Part ..., Subpart A
in effectEffective: 2024-07-01

10 C.F.R. § 76.1 Purpose.

(a) This part establishes requirements that will govern the operation of those portions of the Portsmouth and Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plants located in Piketon, Ohio, and Paducah, Kentucky, respectively, that are leased by the United States Enrichment Corporation. These requirements are promulgated to protect the public health and safety from radiological hazards and provide for the common defense and security. This part also establishes the certification process that will be used to ensure compliance with the established requirements. (b) The regulations contained in this part are issued pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (68 Stat. 919); Title II of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as amended (88 Stat. 1242); and Titles IX and XI of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (106 Stat. 2923, 2951).

10 C.F.R. § 76.2 Scope.

The regulations in this part apply only to those portions of the Portsmouth and Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plants leased by the Corporation, per the Lease Agreement between the Department of Energy and the United States Enrichment Corporation. This part also gives notice to all persons who knowingly provide to the Corporation or any contractor, or subcontractor any components, equipment, materials, or other goods or services that relate to the activities subject to this part that they may be individually subject to NRC enforcement action for violation of § 76.10.

10 C.F.R. § 76.4 Definitions.

As used in this part: Act means the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (68 Stat 919), and includes any amendments to the Act. Administrative controls means the provisions relating to organization and management, procedures, recordkeeping, review and audit, and reporting necessary to ensure operation of the plant in a safe manner. Agreement State means any State with which the Commission has entered into an effective agreement under subsection 274b. of the Act. Non-Agreement State means any other State. Alert means events may occur, are in progress, or have occurred that could lead to a release of radioactive material[s] but that the release is not expected to require a response by an offsite response organization to protect persons offsite. Atomic energy means all forms of energy released in the course of nuclear fission or nuclear transformation. Certificate of compliance or certificate means a certificate of compliance issued pursuant to this part. Classified matter means documents or material revealing classified information. Commission means the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or its duly authorized representatives. Common defense and security means the common defense and security of the United States. Compliance plan means a plan for achieving compliance approved pursuant to this part. Corporation means the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC), or its successor, a Corporation that is authorized by statute to lease the gaseous diffusion enrichment plants in Paducah, Kentucky, and Piketon, Ohio, from the department of Energy, or any person authorized to operate one or both of the gaseous diffusion plants, or other facilities, pursuant to a plan for the privatization of USEC that is approved by the President. Department and Department of Energy (DOE) means the Department of Energy established by the Department of Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. 95-91, 91 Stat. 565, 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.), to the extent that the Department, or its duly authorized representatives, exercises functions formerly vested in the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, its Chairman, members, officers and components and transferred to the U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration and to the Administrator thereof pursuant to Sections 104(b), (c), and (d) of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as amended, (Pub. L. 93-438, 88 Stat. 1233 at 1237, 42 U.S.C. 5814) and retransferred to the Secretary of Energy pursuant to Section 301(a) of the Department of Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. 95-91, 91 Stat. 565 at 577-578, 42 U.S.C. 7151). Depleted uranium means the byproduct residues from the uranium enrichment process in which the concentration of the isotope U235 is less than that occurring in natural uranium. Director means the Director, or his or her designee, of the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Effective dose equivalent means the sum of the products of the dose equivalent to the body organ or tissue and the weighting factors applicable to each of the body organs or tissues that are irradiated, as defined in 10 CFR Part 20 (§§ 20.1001 through 20.2402). Effective kilograms of special nuclear material means: (1) For uranium with an enrichment in the isotope U-235 of 0.01 (1 percent) and above, its element weight in kilograms multiplied by the square of its enrichment expressed as a decimal weight fraction; and (2) For uranium with an enrichment in the isotope U-235 below 0.01 (1 percent), its element weight in kilograms multiplied by 0.0001. Formula quantity means strategic special nuclear material in any combination in a quantity of 5000 grams or more computed by the formula, grams = (grams contained U-235) + 2.5(grams U-233 + grams plutonium). Lease Agreement means the agreement entered into as of July 1, 1993, and any subsequent revisions between the United States Department of Energy and the United States Enrichment Corporation. Limiting conditions for operation means the lowest functional capability or performance levels of structures, systems, components, and their support systems required for normal safe operation of the plant. Limiting control settings means settings for automatic alarm or protective devices related to those variables having significant safety functions. National Security Information means information that has been determined pursuant to Executive Order 12356 or any predecessor order to require protection against unauthorized disclosure and that is so designated. Person means: (1) Any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, association, trust, estate, public or private institution, group, Government Agency other than the Commission or the Department, except that the Department shall be considered a person within the meaning of the regulations in this part to the extent that its facilities and activities are subject to the licensing and related regulatory authority of the Commission pursuant to Section 202 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as amended, (88 Stat. 1244); any State or any political subdivision of or any political entity within a State, any foreign government or nation or any political subdivision of any such government or nation, or other entity; and (2) Any legal successor, representative, agent, or agency of the foregoing. Process means a series of actions that achieves an end or result. Produce, when used in relation to special nuclear material, means: (1) To manufacture, make, produce, or refine special nuclear material; (2) To separate special nuclear material from other substances in which such material may be contained; or (3) To make or to produce new special nuclear material. Radioactive material means source material, special nuclear material, or byproduct material, possessed, used, transferred, or disposed of under part 76. Restricted Data means all data concerning design, manufacture or utilization of atomic weapons, the production of special nuclear material, or the use of special nuclear material in the production of energy, but does not include data declassified or removed from the Restricted Data category pursuant to Section 142 of the Act. Safety limits means those bounds within which the process variables must be maintained for adequate control of the operation and that must not be exceeded in order to protect the integrity of the physical system that is designed to guard against the uncontrolled release of radioactivity. Sealed source means any radioactive material that is encased in a capsule designed to prevent leakage or escape of the radioactive material. Security facility approval means that a determination has been made by the NRC that a facility is eligible to use, process, store, reproduce, transmit, or handle classified matter. Site area emergency means events may occur, are in progress, or have occurred that could lead to a significant release of radioactive material and that could require a response by offsite response organizations to protect persons offsite. Source material means source material as defined in Section 11z. of the Act and in the regulations contained in part 40 of this chapter. Special nuclear material means: (1) Plutonium, uranium 233, uranium enriched in the isotope 233 or in the isotope 235, and any other material which the Commission, pursuant to the provisions of Section 51 of the Act, determines to be special nuclear material, but does not include source material; or (2) Any material artificially enriched in any of the foregoing, but does not include source material. Special nuclear material of low strategic significance means: (1) Less than an amount of special nuclear material of moderate strategic significance, as defined in this section, but more than 15 grams of uranium-235 (contained in uranium enriched to 20 percent or more in the U-235 isotope), or 15 grams of uranium-233, or 15 grams of plutonium, or the combination of 15 grams when computed by the equation, grams = (grams contained U-235) + (grams plutonium) + (grams U-233); or (2) Less than 10,000 grams but more than 1000 grams of uranium-235 (contained in uranium enriched to 10 percent or more but less than 20 percent in the U-235 isotope), or (3) 10,000 grams or more of uranium-235 (contained in uranium enriched above natural but less than 10 percent in the U-235 isotope). Special nuclear material of moderate strategic significance means: (1) Less than a formula quantity of strategic special nuclear material but more than 1000 grams of uranium-235 (contained in uranium enriched to 20 percent or more in the U-235 isotope), or more than 500 grams of uranium-233 or plutonium, or in a combined quantity of more than 1000 grams when computed by the equation, grams = (grams contained U-235) + 2 (grams U-233 + grams plutonium); or (2) 10,000 grams or more of uranium-235 (contained in uranium enriched to 10 percent or more but less than 20 percent in the U-235 isotope). Special nuclear material scrap means the various forms of special nuclear material generated during chemical and mechanical processing, other than recycle material and normal process intermediates, which are unsuitable for use in their present form, but all or part of which will be used after further processing. Strategic special nuclear material means uranium-235 (contained in uranium enriched to 20 percent or more in the U-235 isotope), uranium-233, or plutonium. Surveillance requirements means requirements relating to test, calibration, or inspection to ensure that the necessary quality of systems and components is maintained, that plant operation will be within the safety limits, and that the limiting conditions of operation will be met. Unclassified Controlled Nuclear Information is information whose unauthorized dissemination is prohibited under Section 148 of the Atomic Energy Act. United States, when used in a geographical sense, includes Puerto Rico and all territories and possessions of the United States. Unreviewed safety question means a change which involves any of the following: (1) The probability of occurrence or the consequences of an accident or malfunction of equipment important to safety previously evaluated in the safety analysis report may be increased; (2) A possibility for an accident or malfunction of a different type than any evaluated previously in the safety analysis report may be created; or (3) The margin of safety as defined in the basis for any technical safety requirement is reduced.

10 C.F.R. § 76.5 Communications.

Except where otherwise specified, all communications and reports concerning the regulations in this part and applications filed under them should be sent as follows: (a) By mail addressed to: ATTN: Document Control Desk, Director, Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response, U.S Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001; (b) By hand delivery to the NRC's offices at 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland; or (c) Where practicable, by electronic submission, for example, Electronic Information Exchange, or CD-ROM. Electronic submissions must be made in a manner that enables the NRC to receive, read, authenticate, distribute, and archive the submission, and process and retrieve it a single page at a time. Detailed guidance on making electronic submissions can be obtained by visiting the NRC's Web site at http://www.nrc.gov/site-help/e-submittals.html; by e-mail to MSHD.Resource@nrc.gov; or by writing the Office of the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Washington, DC 20555-0001. The guidance discusses, among other topics, the formats the NRC can accept, the use of electronic signatures, and the treatment of nonpublic information. (d) Classified communications shall be transmitted in accordance with § 95.39 of this chapter to the NRC Headquarters' classified mailing address listed in appendix A to part 73 of this chapter or delivered by hand in accordance with § 95.39 of this chapter to the NRC Headquarters' street address listed in appendix A to part 73 of this chapter.

10 C.F.R. § 76.6 Interpretations.

Except as specifically authorized by the Commission in writing, no interpretation of the meaning of the regulations in this part by any officer or employee of the Commission other than a written interpretation by the General Counsel will be recognized to be binding upon the Commission.

10 C.F.R. § 76.7 Employee protection.

(a) Discrimination by the Corporation, a contractor, or a subcontractor of the Corporation against an employee for engaging in certain protected activities is prohibited. Discrimination includes discharge and other actions that relate to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment. The protected activities are established in Section 211 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as amended, and in general are related to the administration or enforcement of a requirement imposed under the Atomic Energy Act or the Energy Reorganization Act. (1) The protected activities include but are not limited to: (i) Providing the Commission or his or her employer information about alleged violations of either of the above statutes or possible violations of requirements imposed under either of the above statutes; (ii) Refusing to engage in any practice made unlawful under either of the above statutes or under these requirements if the employee has identified the alleged illegality to the employer; (iii) Requesting the Commission to institute action against his or her employer for the administration or enforcement of these requirements; (iv) Testifying in any Commission proceeding, or before Congress, or at any Federal or State proceeding regarding any provision (or proposed provision) of either of the above statutes; and (v) Assisting or participating in, or attempting to assist or participate in, the protected activities. (2) These activities are protected even if no formal proceeding is actually initiated as a result of the employee assistance or participation. (3) This section has no application to any employee alleging discrimination prohibited by this section who, acting without direction from his or her employer (or the employer's agent), deliberately causes a violation of any requirement of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as amended, or the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended. (b) Any employee who believes that he or she has been discharged or otherwise discriminated against by any person for engaging in protected activities specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section may seek a remedy for the discharge or discrimination through an administrative proceeding in the Department of Labor. The administrative proceeding must be initiated within 180 days after an alleged violation occurs by filing a complaint alleging the violation with the Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division. The Department of Labor may order reinstatement, back pay, and compensatory damages. (c) A violation of paragraphs (a), (e), or (f) of this section by the Corporation, or a contractor or subcontractor of the Corporation may be grounds for: (1) Denial, revocation, or suspension of the certificate. (2) Imposition of a civil penalty on the Corporation or a contractor or subcontractor of the Corporation. (3) Other enforcement action. (d) Actions taken by an employer or others which adversely affect an employee may be predicated upon nondiscrimination grounds. The prohibition applies when the adverse action occurs because the employee has engaged in protected activities. An employee's engagement in protected activities does not automatically render him or her immune from discharge or discipline for legitimate reasons or from adverse action dictated by nonprohibited considerations. (e)(1) The Corporation shall prominently post the revision of NRC Form 3, “Notice to Employees,” referenced in 10 CFR 19.11(c). This form must be posted at locations sufficient to permit employees protected by this section to observe a copy on the way to or from their place of work. Premises must be posted during the term of the certificate and for 30 days following certificate termination. (2) The Corporation shall notify its contractors of the prohibition against discrimination for engaging in protected activities. (3) Copies of NRC Form 3 may be obtained by writing to the NRC Region III Office listed in appendix D to part 20 of this chapter, via email to Forms.Resource@nrc.gov, or by visiting the NRC's online library at http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/forms/. (f) No agreement affecting the compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, including an agreement to settle a complaint filed by an employee with the Department of Labor pursuant to Section 211 of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974, as amended, may contain any provision which would prohibit, restrict, or otherwise discourage an employee from participating in protected activity as defined in paragraph (a)(1) of this section including, but not limited to, providing information to the NRC or to his or her employer on potential violations or other matters within NRC's regulatory responsibilities.

10 C.F.R. § 76.8 Information collection requirements: OMB approval not required.

The information collection requirements contained in this part of limited applicability apply to a wholly-owned instrumentality of the United States and affect fewer than ten respondents. Therefore, Office of Management and Budget clearance is not required pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

10 C.F.R. § 76.9 Completeness and accuracy of information.

(a) Information provided to the Commission or information required by statute or by the Commission's rules, regulations, standards, orders, or other conditions to be maintained by the Corporation must be complete and accurate in all material respects. (b) The Corporation shall notify the Commission of information identified as having for the regulated activity a significant implication for public health and safety or common defense and security. The Corporation violates this paragraph only if the Corporation fails to notify the Commission of information that the Corporation has identified as having a significant implication for public health and safety or common defense and security. Notification must be provided to the Administrator of NRC's Region III Office within 2 working days of identifying the information. This requirement is not applicable to information which is already required to be provided to the Commission by other reporting or updating requirements.

10 C.F.R. § 76.10 Deliberate misconduct.

(a) The Corporation or any employee of the Corporation and any contractor (including a supplier or consultant), subcontractor, or any employee of a contractor or subcontractor, who knowingly provides to the Corporation, or any contractor or subcontractor, components, equipment, materials, or other goods or services, that relate to the Corporation's activities subject to this part; may not: (1) Engage in deliberate misconduct that causes or, but for detection, would have caused, the Corporation to be in violation of any rule, regulation, or order, or any term, condition, or limitation of a certificate or approval issued by the Commission; or (2) Deliberately submit to the NRC, the Corporation, or its contractor or subcontractor, information that the person submitting the information knows to be incomplete or inaccurate in some respect material to the NRC. (b) A person who violates paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section may be subject to enforcement action in accordance with the procedures in 10 CFR part 2, subpart B. (c) For purposes of paragraph (a)(1) of this section, deliberate misconduct by a person means an intentional act or omission that the person knows: (1) Would cause the Corporation to be in violation of any rule, regulation, or order, or any term, condition, or limitation of a certificate or approved compliance plan issued by the Director; or (2) Constitutes a violation of a requirement, procedure, instruction, contract, purchase order or policy of the Corporation, contractor, or subcontractor.

10 C.F.R. § 76.21 Certificate required.

(a) The Corporation or its contractors may not operate the gaseous diffusion plants at Piketon, Ohio, and Paducah, Kentucky, unless an appropriate certificate of compliance, and/or an approved compliance plan is in effect under this part. Unless authorized by the NRC under other provisions of this chapter, a person other than the Corporation or its contractors may not acquire, deliver, receive, possess, use, or transfer radioactive material at the gaseous diffusion plants at Piketon, Ohio, and Paducah, Kentucky. (b) For the purposes of §§ 30.41, 40.51, and 70.42 of this chapter, the Corporation shall be authorized to receive, and licensees shall be authorized to transfer to the Corporation, byproduct material, source material, or special nuclear material to the extent permitted under the certificate of compliance issued, and/or the compliance plan approved, pursuant to this part.

10 C.F.R. § 76.22 Ineligibility of certain applicants.

A certificate of compliance may not be issued to the Corporation if the Commission determines that: (a) The Corporation is owned, controlled, or dominated by an alien, a foreign corporation, or a foreign government; or (b) The issuance of such a certificate of compliance would be inimical to— (1) The common defense and security of the United States; or (2) The maintenance of a reliable and economical domestic source of enrichment services.

10 C.F.R. § 76.23 Specific exemptions.

The Commission may, upon its own initiative or upon application of the Corporation, grant such exemptions from the requirements of the certification regulations as it determines are authorized by law and will not endanger life, or property, or the common defense and security, and are otherwise in the public interest.

Starting a business? Corpus forms LLCs in all 50 states and DC.