On May 15, 2002, Congress enacted the “Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002,” which is now known as the No FEAR Act. One purpose of the Act is to “require that Federal agencies be accountable for violations of antidiscrimination and whistleblower protection laws” (Public Law 107-174, Summary). In support of this objective, Congress found that “agencies cannot be run effectively if those agencies practice or tolerate discrimination,” Public Law 107-174, Title I, General Provisions, section 101(1).
The Act requires the U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board (Board) to provide this notice to Board employees, former Board employees, and applicants for Board employment to inform them of their rights and protections under Federal antidiscrimination and whistleblower protection laws.