January 2021

This Enforcement Process Overview (EPO) sets forth the processes used by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Enforcement, within the Office of Enterprise Assessments (EA), to implement DOE’s regulatory obligations as authorized by the Atomic Energy Act. 

The Enforcement Process Overview (EPO) and the companion Enforcement Coordinator Handbook are program guidance documents that the Office of Enforcement maintains to promote improved understanding of the Department’s safety and security enforcement program and facilitate transparency and consistency in its implementation.  The EPO document provides background information, discusses roles and responsibilities, and delineates various considerations that the Office of Enforcement uses to determine enforcement outcomes.