{"abstract":"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.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY","name":"Energy Department","id":136,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/energy-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/136","parent_id":null,"slug":"energy-department"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2016/12/27/2016-31150.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":820,"title":10}],"citation":"81 FR 94910","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Effective Date: The effective date of this rule is January 26, 2017.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket No. EA-RM-16-PRDNA"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2016-31150","effective_on":"2017-01-26","end_page":94914,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"explanation":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2016/12/27/2016-31150.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/12/27/2016-31150/procedural-rules-for-doe-nuclear-activities","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2016-31150?publication_date=2016-12-27","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2016-12-27/2016-31150/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":5,"page_views":{"count":875,"last_updated":"2026-04-04 18:15:03 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2016-12-27/pdf/2016-31150.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2016-31150.pdf?1482500824","publication_date":"2016-12-27","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2016/12/27/2016-31150.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"1992-AA52":{"issue":"201610","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1992-AA52/procedural-rules-for-doe-nuclear-activities","title":"Procedural Rules for DOE Nuclear Activities","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201610&RIN=1992-AA52&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Substantive, Nonsignificant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["1992-AA52"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[],"comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=DOE_FRDOC_0001","supporting_documents_count":0,"docket_id":"DOE_FRDOC_0001","regulation_id_number":null,"title":"Recently Posted DOE Rules and Notices.","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2017-01-16T06:00:17Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":false,"signing_date":null,"start_page":94910,"subtype":null,"title":"Procedural Rules for DOE Nuclear Activities","toc_doc":"Procedural Rules for Nuclear Activities","toc_subject":null,"topics":["Administrative practice and procedure","Government contracts","Penalties","Whistleblowing"],"type":"Rule","volume":81}