Destruction of an energy facility
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
(a) Whoever knowingly and damages or or to damage the property of an energy facility in an amount that in fact exceeds or would if the attempted offense had been completed, or if the object of the had been achieved, have exceeded $100,000, or damages or or to damage the property of an energy facility in any amount and causes or or to cause a significant interruption or impairment of a function of an energy facility, shall be punishable by a or imprisonment for not more than 20 years, or both.
(b) Whoever knowingly and damages or to damage the property of an energy facility in an amount that in fact exceeds or would if the attempted offense had been completed have exceeded $5,000 shall be punishable by a , or imprisonment for not more than five years, or both.
(c)
For purposes of this section, the term "energy facility" means a facility that is involved in the production, storage, transmission, or distribution of electricity, fuel, or another form or source of energy, or research, development, or demonstration facilities relating thereto, regardless of whether such facility is still under construction or is otherwise not functioning, except a facility subject to the jurisdiction, administration, or in the custody of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission or an interstate gas pipeline facility as defined in section 60101 of title 49.
(d) Whoever is convicted of a violation of subsection (a) or (b) that has resulted in the death of any person shall be subject to imprisonment for any term of years or life.
History: (Added Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §1011(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2141 (PDF, 62 MB), §1365; renumbered §1366, Pub. L. 99–646, §29(a), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3598 (PDF, 5.1 MB); amended Pub. L. 101–647, title XXXV, §§3545, 3546, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4926 (PDF, 27 MB); Pub. L. 103–272, §5(e)(9), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1374 (PDF, 99 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXII, §320903(d)(3), title XXXIII, §330016(2)(C), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2125 (PDF, 52 MB), 2148; Pub. L. 107–56, title VIII, §810(b), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 380; Pub. L. 109–177, title IV, §406(c)(2), Mar. 9, 2006, 120 Stat. 245.)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime to knowingly and willfully damage the property of an energy facility, such as a power plant, fuel storage site, or power line. Attempts are also covered, and conspiracies are covered for the more serious version. Nuclear facilities regulated by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and interstate gas pipelines are not covered.