english general electric argued april decided june petitioner english laboratory technician nuclear facility operated respondent general electric company ge complained ge management federal government several perceived violations standards facility including failure clean radioactive spills laboratory frustrated ge failure address concerns english one occasion deliberately failed clean work table contaminated uranium earlier shift instead outlined contaminated areas red tape make conspicuous days later called supervisor attention fact areas still cleaned shortly work halted inspection cleaning laboratory ge charged english knowing failure clean radioactive contamination temporarily assigned work ultimately discharged filed complaint secretary labor alleging ge actions violated energy reorganization act makes unlawful nuclear industry employer retaliate employee reporting safety violations although administrative law judge alj found violation secretary dismissed complaint untimely limitations period provided subsequently english filed diversity action seeking compensatory punitive damages ge district raising inter alia claim intentional infliction emotional distress rejecting ge argument latter claim fell within field nuclear safety completely federal government nevertheless dismissed claim ground conflicted three particular aspects therefore appeals affirmed held english claim intentional infliction emotional distress federal law pp claim barred field theory reviewing relevant statutory provisions legislative history pacific gas electric state energy resources conservation development concluded federal government occupied entire field nuclear safety concerns expressed view congress intended government regulate radiological safety aspects involved construction operation nuclear plant english action however fall within boundaries field defined since state tort law issue motivated safety concerns see since claim actual effect nuclear safety decisions made build run nuclear facilities sufficiently direct substantial cf silkwood thus surprising evidence necessary clear manifest intent congress claims pp english claim conflict particular aspects first neither text legislative history provides subsection section prohibition employer retaliation shall apply employee deliberately causes violation requirement act atomic energy act reflects congressional desire preclude relief including state remedies deliberately commits safety violation even congress intent federal interest served recovery violators safety standards alj found english deliberately commit violation second absent specific suggestion text legislative history failure provide general authorization secretary award punitive damages violations imply congressional intent bar state action like english permits award third expeditious timeframes provided processing claims reflect congressional decision order encourage reporting safety violations retaliatory behavior able recover law time filing expired since many retaliatory incidents response safety complaints made federal government government already aware safety violations even employees invoke remedial provisions moreover suggestion employees forgo options rely solely state remedies simply speculative basis rest finding pp blackmun delivered opinion unanimous travis payne argued cause petitioner briefs arthur schiller christopher wright argued cause amicus curiae urging reversal brief solicitor general starr deputy solicitor general roberts allen feldman steven mandel jeffrey hennemuth carter phillips argued cause respondent brief rex lee benjamin heineman philip lacovara barton smith briefs amici curiae urging reversal filed attorney general north carolina et al lacy thornburg attorney general pro se john brooks pro se donnell van noppen iii michael okun national conference state legislatures et al benna ruth solomon plaintiff employment lawyers association michael mcguinness paul tobias nicholas reynolds richard walker filed brief nuclear management resources council amicus curiae urging affirmance briefs amici curiae filed government accountability project louis clark national whistleblower center stephen kohn michael kohn justice blackmun delivered opinion particular context case must decide whether federal law cause action intentional infliction emotional distress suit brought employee production facility employer arises actions employer allegedly taken retaliation employee complaints petitioner vera english employed laboratory technician production facility operated respondent general electric company ge wilmington february petitioner complained ge management nuclear regulatory commission nrc several perceived violations standards facility including failure clean radioactive material spills laboratory frustrated company failure address concerns petitioner one occasion deliberately failed clean work table contaminated uranium solution preceding shift instead outlined contaminated areas red tape make conspicuous days later petitioner called supervisor attention areas still cleaned result work halted laboratory inspected cleaned shortly episode ge charged petitioner knowing failure clean radioactive contamination temporarily assigned work april ge management informed petitioner laid unless within days successfully bid position area facility exposed nuclear materials may petitioner notified company final decision affirming disciplinary action taken petitioner find another position july employment terminated august petitioner filed complaint secretary labor charging ge violating energy reorganization act added stat ed makes unlawful employer nuclear industry discharge employee otherwise discriminate employee respect compensation terms conditions privileges employment employee commenced caused commenced commence cause commenced proceeding act atomic energy act amended proceeding administration enforcement requirement imposed act atomic energy act amended testified testify proceeding assisted participated assist participate manner proceeding action carry purposes act atomic energy act amended march petitioner filed diversity action ge district eastern district north carolina petitioner four counts raised two claims one wrongful discharge one intentional infliction emotional distress respect latter petitioner alleged suffering severe depression emotional harm result ge extreme outrageous conduct app petitioner alleged addition transferring ultimately firing ge removed laboratory position guard criminal assigned degrading make work substitute assignment ibid derided paranoid barred working controlled areas placed constant surveillance working hours isolated even lunch periods conspired charge fraudulently violations safety criminal laws petitioner sought punitive well compensatory damages although district concluded petitioner stated valid claim intentional infliction emotional distress north carolina law nonetheless granted ge motion dismiss supp accept ge argument petitioner claim fell within field nuclear safety field according ge completely federal government held however petitioner claim conflicted three particular aspects provision bars recovery section employee deliberately causes violation requirement energy reorganization act atomic energy act absence provision generally authorizing secretary award exemplary punitive damages provisions requiring invoking statute file administrative complaint within days violation occurs secretary resolve complaint within days filing see view congress enacted scheme foreclose remedies violate requirements limit exemplary damages awards nuclear industry guarantee speedy resolution allegations violations goals found incompatible broader remedies petitioner sought state tort law appeals fourth circuit affirmed dismissal petitioner emotional distress claim basis district reasoning concluded congress intended foreclose nuclear pursuing state tort remedies stated belief district correctly identified applied relevant federal state law apparent conflict decision first circuit see norris lumbermen mutual casualty granted certiorari ii sole question resolution whether federal government petitioner tort claim intentional infliction emotional distress cases established state law supremacy clause art vi cl three circumstances first congress define explicitly extent enactments state law see shaw delta air lines preemption fundamentally question congressional intent see schneidewind anr pipeline congress made intent known explicit statutory language courts task easy one second absence explicit statutory language state law regulates conduct field congress intended federal government occupy exclusively intent may inferred scheme federal regulation pervasive make reasonable inference congress left room supplement act congress touch es field federal interest dominant federal system assumed preclude enforcement state laws subject rice santa fe elevator although hesitated draw inference field supported federal statutory regulatory schemes emphasized field congress said includes areas traditionally occupied congressional intent supersede state laws must clear manifest jones rath packing quoting rice santa fe elevator finally state law extent actually conflicts federal law thus found impossible private party comply state federal requirements see florida lime avocado growers paul state law stands obstacle accomplishment execution full purposes objectives congress hines davidowitz see also maryland louisiana undisputed congress explicitly petitioner tort action inserting specific language enactments governing nuclear industry district apparently appeals rest decisions field rationale either rather considered actual tension petitioner cause action congressional goals reflected respondent seeks defend judgment lower courts rationale alternative ground petitioner tort claim located within field reserved federal regulation field nuclear safety turning specific aspects lower courts based decisions address field question first case occasion consider extent congress field nuclear safety pacific gas electric state energy resources conservation development carefully analyzed congressional enactments relating nuclear industry order decide whether california law conditioned construction nuclear powerplant state agency approval plant storage disposal facilities fell within field although need repeat analysis summarize briefly discussion actions congress taken nuclear realm conclusions drew actions use control ownership nuclear technology remained federal monopoly atomic energy act stat amended et seq ed stemmed congress belief national interest served government encouraged private sector develop atomic energy peaceful purposes program federal regulation licensing act implemented policy decision opening door private construction ownership operation commercial reactors strict supervision atomic energy commission aec see duke power carolina environmental study group aec given exclusive authority license transfer delivery receipt acquisition possession use nuclear materials observed vermont yankee nuclear power natural resources defense council federal government prime area concern licensing context national security public health safety respect matters significant role contemplated congress amended atomic energy act order clarify respective responsibilities federal government respect regulation byproduct source special nuclear materials ed generally increase role amendments authorized aec agreements state governors discontinue federal government regulatory authority certain nuclear materials specified conditions state regulatory programs adopted amendment required coordinated compatible aec congress passed energy reorganization act stat et seq ed abolished aec transferred regulatory licensing authority nrc act also expanded number range safety responsibilities nrc charge observed pacific gas nrc purport exercise authority based upon economic considerations rather concerned primarily public health safety see finally congress amended atomic energy act energy reorganization act pub stat among amendments ed discussed encourages employees report safety violations provides mechanism protecting retaliation reviewing relevant statutory provisions legislative history pacific gas concluded federal government occupied entire field nuclear safety concerns except limited powers expressly ceded although ultimately determined california statute issue fall within field made clear view congress intended federal government regulate radiological safety aspects involved construction operation nuclear plant present dispute respondent petitioner disagree whether petitioner tort action falls within boundaries field referred pacific gas respondent maintains field nuclear safety large one integral part specifically respondent contends federal government better able promote nuclear safety pursue federal remedy whole area marked considered part field identified pacific gas accordingly respondent argues remedies conduct covered congress decision federal government exclusively regulate field nuclear safety petitioner amicus curiae part contend petitioner claim intentional infliction emotional distress made clear pacific gas state laws supported nonsafety rationales lie within field argue since state tort intentional infliction emotional distress supported nonsafety rationale namely state substantial interest protecting citizens kind abuse petitioner complain see farmer carpenters petitioner cause action must allowed go forward think arguments somewhat wide mark respect respondent contention find clear manifest intent part congress enacting state tort laws traditionally available persons like petitioner allege outrageous conduct hands employer indeed acceptance respondent argument require us conclude congress displaced state tort law issue case also state criminal law extent criminal law applied retaliatory conduct occurring site nuclear employer example employer retaliate nuclear hiring thugs assault employee job conduct literally covered respondent position imply state criminal law prohibiting conduct within field simply believe congress intended result instead think district essentially correct observing obviously bears relation field nuclear safety paramount purpose protection employees see accordingly see basis respondent contention claims arising conduct covered section necessarily included field however accept petitioner position reading pacific gas based true holding case premised part conclusion california ban nuclear construction motivated safety concerns indeed majority suggested state moratorium nuclear construction grounded safety concerns falls squarely within prohibited field words defined field part reference motivation behind state law approach defining field support text amendments atomic energy act provided among things othing section shall construed affect authority state local agency regulate activities purposes protection radiation hazards ed emphasis added suggest finding safety motivation necessary place state law within field contrary took great pains make clear state regulation matters directly affecting radiological safety construction operation even enacted nonsafety concerns nevertheless infringe upon nrc exclusive authority thus even suggested part field defined reference purpose state law question made clear another part field defined state law actual effect nuclear safety clear state tort law issue motivated safety concerns former portion field argument relevant real issue whether petitioner tort claim related radiological safety aspects involved operation nuclear facility see falls within field addressing issue must bear mind every state law remote way may affect nuclear safety decisions made build run nuclear facilities said fall within field doubt instance application state minimum wage child labor laws employees nuclear facilities even though laws said affect tangentially resource allocation decisions might bearing radiological safety instead state law fall within zone must direct substantial effect decisions made build operate nuclear facilities concerning radiological safety levels recognize claim intentional infliction emotional distress issue may effect decisions liability claims like petitioner attach additional consequences retaliatory conduct employers employers find retaliation costly forced deal complaints means including altering radiological safety policies nevertheless believe effect neither direct substantial enough place petitioner claim field result strongly suggested decision silkwood held claim punitive damages state tort action arising escape plutonium federally licensed nuclear facility fall within field discussed pacific gas reached result notwithstanding tension conclusion radiological safety regulation exclusive concern federal law conclusion state may nevertheless award damages including punitive damages based law liability governing unsafe working conditions although decision silkwood based substantial part legislative history suggesting congress intend include field state tort remedies injuries see think odd irrational conclude congress intended include tort actions stemming retaliation field intended include tort actions stemming radiation damage suffered result actual safety violations potential liability kind claim issue silkwood affect radiological safety decisions directly potential liability kind claim petitioner raises tort claim silkwood attaches additional consequences safety violations rather employer conduct merely arises allegations safety violations moreover related prospect compensatory punitive damages injuries undoubtedly affect nuclear employers primary decisions radiological safety construction operation nuclear power facilities far substantially liability kind claim petitioner asserts thus surprising find evidence clear manifest intent part congress tort claims like petitioner cf goodyear atomic miller increased workers compensation award injury caused safety violation nuclear facility incidental regulatory pressure congress finds acceptable accordingly conclude petitioner claim lie within field nuclear safety turn question whether lower courts concluded petitioner claim conflicts particular aspects face section grant federal administrative remedy employees one industry one type employer discrimination retaliation ordinarily mere existence federal regulatory enforcement scheme even one detailed imply state remedies observed undoubtedly every subject merits congressional legislation definition subject national concern mean however every federal statute ousts related state law instead must look special features warranting hillsborough county automated medical laboratories district identified three special features believed incompatible petitioner claim district relied first provides subsection section prohibition employer retaliation shall apply employee deliberately causes violation requirement act atomic energy act according district respondent section reflects congressional desire preclude relief including state remedies deliberately commits safety violation referred permitting claim based retaliation reasoned frustrate congressional objective agree initial matter note text specifically limits applicability remedy provided suggest bars tort actions legislative history reveal clear congressional purpose supplant causes action might afford broader relief indeed explanation statute remedial limitations committee report statement employees deliberately violate requirements denied protection order avoid abuse protection afforded section emphasis added event even district respondent correct concluding congress wanted deliberately commit violations defined denied remedies employer retaliation federal interest served state law extent afforded recovery violators see norris lumbermen mutual casualty instant case alj found petitioner deliberately committed safety violation within meaning app pet cert neither secretary lower courts suggested otherwise thus barring petitioner tort action even serve federal interest lower courts respondent gleaned reading section district also relied absence general authorization secretary award exemplary damages employers engage retaliatory conduct district concluded respondent argues absence implies congressional intent bar state action like petitioner permits award district put reflects informed judgment congress circumstances nuclear whistler blower receive punitive damages fired discriminated safety complaints believe district respondent read much congress decision authorize exemplary damages violations first even respect actions brought district incorrect stating circumstances nuclear receive punitive damages authorizes district award exemplary damages enforcement proceedings brought secretary moreover importantly think district failed follow teaching rdinarily state causes action solely impose liability authorized federal law california arc america absent specific suggestion text legislative history unable find conclude congress intended state actions permit recovery exemplary damages finally address district holding expeditious timeframes provided congress processing claims reflect congressional decision able recover law time filing expired district reasoned respondent agrees remedy available time filing complaint run less incentive bring complaint result argument runs federal regulatory agencies remain unaware safety violations retaliatory behavior thus unable ensure radiological safety nuclear facilities deny force argument believe problem great respondent suggests first many retaliatory incidents come response safety complaints employees register federal regulatory agencies federal government thus already aware safety violations whether employee invokes remedial provisions also sure respondent seems employees forgo options rely solely state remedies retaliation prospect simply speculative basis rest finding observed repeatedly ordinarily implied absent actual conflict see savage jones teaching decisions enjoin seeking conflicts state federal regulation none clearly exists huron portland cement detroit iii conclude petitioner claim intentional infliction emotional distress fall within field nuclear safety field defined prior cases conflict particular aspect contrary judgment appeals reversed case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes employee believes discharged otherwise discriminated violation statute may file complaint secretary labor within days violation occurs secretary must investigate alleged violation hold public hearing within days receiving complaint issue order either provides denies relief violation found secretary may order reinstatement backpay award compensatory damages require violator pay employee costs attorney fees person adversely affected order secretary may obtain judicial review appropriate appeals either secretary complainant may seek enforcement secretary order district appeals fourth circuit affirmed decision remanded case consideration petitioner separate claim subjected continuing course retaliatory harassment may disciplinary decision english whitfield upon remand alj concluded claim also dismissed time barred alj recommended decision issue still pending secretary district ruled petitioner made claim state law wrongful discharge petitioner appealed ruling claim us referring three categories taken mean rigidly distinct indeed field may understood species conflict state law falls within field conflicts congress intent either express plainly implied exclude state regulation nevertheless previously adverted framework invoke apply regard note enforcement implementation entrusted congress nrc body primarily responsible nuclear safety regulation department labor two justices thought since california statute issue pacific gas motivated safety concerns reason majority discuss portion field argument either see whether suggestion majority pacific gas legislative purpose relevant definition field part holding case issue us today discussed even safety motivation relevant petitioner broad suggestion safety motivation necessary finding particular state law falls within occupied field lacks merit respondent relies see brief respondent decisions construing effect national labor relations act nlra et argue petitioner claim falls within field regard reliance misplaced begin nlra unlike statutes governing field comprehensively deals relations inception organizational activity negotiation agreement moreover special factors support conclusion state labor relations law warranted specifically congress perception nlra needed state legislatures courts unable provide informed coherent labor policy see motor coach employees lockridge