Section 234(A) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 establishes a system of civil penalties for DOE contractors (and any subcontractors or suppliers), indemnified under section 170.(d) of the Act, who violate any applicable rule, regulation or order related to nuclear safety prescribed or issued by the Secretary of Energy pursuant to the Act. DOE regulations at 10 CFR part 820 Final Rule implement section 234(A) of the Act by setting forth procedural rules for DOE nuclear activities, including the assessment of civil penalties for violations of DOE Nuclear Safety Requirements. For the purposes of enforcement under part 820, DOE Nuclear Safety Requirements include, among other things, any DOE Nuclear Safety Requirement in the Code of Federal Regulations. 

Separate from part 820, DOE has also issued regulations at 10 CFR part 708 that prohibit a contractor or subcontractor from retaliating against employees for reporting violations of law, mismanagement, waste, abuse, or dangerous/unsafe workplace conditions, participating in proceedings, or refusing to participate in an activity that may constitute a violation of law or cause a reasonable fear of injury (referred to as "whistleblowers"). The new proposed rule would establish requirements specific to whistleblower retaliation concerning nuclear safety. The proposed rule would also provide, in the text of part 820, a list of all other DOR Nuclear Safety Requirements."