View source for Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board

{{Organization
|OrganizationName=Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board
|OrganizationType=Independent Agencies
|Mission=To provide independent analysis, advice, and recommendations to the Secretary of Energy to ensure adequate protection of public health and safety at defense nuclear facilities; to address issues that could impact safety.
|CreationLegislation=Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended in 1988
|Employees=110
|Budget=$29 million (FY 2023)
|OrganizationExecutive=Chairman
|Services=Safety Oversight; Recommendations; Technical Analysis
|HeadquartersLocation=38.89469, -77.02085
|HeadquartersAddress=625 Indiana Ave NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20004
|Website=https://www.dnfsb.gov/
}}
The '''Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board''' is an [[independent agency of the United States government]] based in [[Washington, D.C.]] Established in 1988, the DNFSB oversees the [[nuclear weapons]] complex administered by the [[U.S. Department of Energy]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/defense-nuclear-facilities-safety-board |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=federalregister.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2021-title42/pdf/USCODE-2021-title42-chap23-divsnA-subchapXVII-A-sec2286.pdf |access-date=February 2, 2024}}</ref> The DNFSB is independent of the Department of Energy. The DNFSB's most important power is its ability to give recommendations to the [[Secretary of Energy]].

{{Official URL (simple)|url=https://www.dnfsb.gov/}}

==Membership==
The board consists of five members, who are appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The President appoints members of the Board from civilian life who are U.S. citizens and are respected experts in the field of nuclear safety with a demonstrated competence and knowledge relevant to the independent investigative and oversight functions of the board. The [[National Academy of Sciences]] maintains a list of individuals who meet these qualifications, which assists the President in selecting individuals to nominate. A maximum of three members may be members of the same political party. They each serve terms of five years, and, following changes made by the [[National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020|NDAA 2020]] § 3203(b)(1)(A), may not be reappointed to a second term, unless they were originally appointed to fill an unexpired term of less than three remaining years. A member may not continue to serve after the end of their term unless that would consitute a loss of quorum for the board. Three members is necessary for the board to have a quorum. The President designates one of the members to serve as chairman and chief executive officer, and another to serve as vice chairman.<ref>{{USC|42|2286}}</ref>

===Board members===
The current FCA board as of September 25, 2024:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dnfsb.gov/about/board-members |title=Board Members |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=<!--Not stated--> |website=DNFSB.gov |publisher=Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board |access-date=September 25, 2024}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! Position
! Name
! Party
! Took office
! Term expires
|-
! Chair
| {{sortname|Joyce L.|Connery}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic
| {{dts|2015|08}} {{small|(as member)}}<br>{{dts|2021|01|20}} {{small|(as Chair)}}
| {{dts|2024|10|18}}
|-
! Vice chairman
| {{sortname|Thomas A.|Summers}}
| {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican
| {{dts|2020|08|17}}
| {{dts|2025|10|18}}
|-
! Member
| {{sortname|Patricia L.|Lee}}
| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic
| {{dts|2024|09|04}}
| {{dts|2027|10|18}}
|-
! Member
| ''Vacant''
| 
| 
| {{dts|2026|10|18}}
|-
! Member
| ''Vacant''
| 
| 
| {{dts|2028|10|18}}
|}

===Nominations===
President [[Joe Biden|Biden]] has nominated the following to fill a seat on the board. They await Senate confirmation.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.congress.gov/quick-search/nominations?wordsPhrases=Defense+Nuclear+Facilities+Safety+Board&wordVariants=on&congresses%5B0%5D=118&nomCivil=on&nomOther=on&pnNumbers=&nomineeNames=&positions=&organizations=&stateTerritories%5B0%5D=any&nominationAction=&dates=datesReceivedInSenate&dateOperator=equal&startDate=&endDate=&dateIsOption=yesterday |title=Quick Search Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=<!--Not stated--> |website=Congress.gov |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=September 25, 2024}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Name !! Party !! Term expires !! Replacing
|-
| {{sortname|William Isaac|White}} || {{party shading/Democratic}} | Democratic || {{dts|2028|10|18}} || {{sortname|Jessie Hill|Roberson}}
|}


==Mission==

The DNFSB's mission is to provide independent oversight of the safety practices at the Department of Energy's defense nuclear facilities. It advises the Secretary of Energy on safety issues and makes recommendations to improve safety, protect public health, and ensure the well-being of workers at these facilities.

==Parent organization==

The DNFSB operates as an independent agency and does not have a parent organization in the traditional sense.

==Legislation==

The DNFSB was established by amendments to the [[Atomic Energy Act of 1954]] in 1988, which authorized the creation of an independent body for nuclear safety oversight.

==Partners==

* [[U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)]]
* National Laboratories and DOE sites
* Other federal agencies with nuclear safety interests

==Number of employees==

The DNFSB employs approximately 110 staff members.

==Organization structure==

*'''Office of the Chairman''' directs the board's activities.
*'''Technical Divisions''' conduct safety reviews and technical analyses.
*'''General Counsel''' provides legal support and advice.
*'''Resident Inspectors''' are stationed at key DOE facilities for on-site monitoring.

==List of programs==

* Safety Recommendations to DOE
* Public Hearings on Nuclear Safety
* Technical Reports and Oversight Activities
* Annual Reports to Congress

==Last total enacted budget==

The last total enacted budget for the DNFSB was $29 million for Fiscal Year 2023.

==Leader==

The DNFSB is led by a Chairman.

==Services provided==

The DNFSB provides services by reviewing safety standards, conducting inspections, issuing safety recommendations, and performing risk assessments at DOE's defense nuclear facilities. It also engages in public outreach to share its findings and recommendations on nuclear safety.

==Regulations overseen==

While the DNFSB does not directly oversee regulations, it influences safety policies and practices at DOE's nuclear facilities through its recommendations and by providing technical expertise to ensure compliance with safety standards.

==Headquarters address==

625 Indiana Ave NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20004

==Website==

https://www.dnfsb.gov/

==Wikipedia article==

[[wikipedia:Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board]]

==External links==
* https://www.dnfsb.gov/
* https://www.dnfsb.gov/about/who-we-are
* https://www.dnfsb.gov/reports

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==See also==
*[[Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations]]
*[[Waste Isolation Pilot Plant]]

==External links==
* {{official|https://www.dnfsb.gov/}}
* [https://ehss.energy.gov/deprep/ Departmental Representative to the Board]

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Nuclear safety and security]]
[[Category:Nuclear weapons infrastructure of the United States]]
[[Category:1988 establishments in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Independent agencies of the United States government]]

{{nuclear-weapon-stub}}
{{US-org-stub}}
{{US-mil-stub}}