Requirement of financial protection for licensees
section 2235 of this titlesection 2012(i) of this titleEach license issued under section 2133 or 2134 of this title and each construction permit issued under shall, and each license issued under section 2073, 2093, or 2111 of this title may, for the public purposes cited in , have as a condition of the license a requirement that the licensee have and maintain financial protection of such type and in such amounts as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (in this section referred to as the “Commission”) in the exercise of its licensing and regulatory authority and responsibility shall require in accordance with subsection (b) to cover public liability claims. Whenever such financial protection is required, it may be a further condition of the license that the licensee execute and maintain an indemnification agreement in accordance with subsection (c). The Commission may require, as a further condition of issuing a license, that an applicant waive any immunity from public liability conferred by Federal or State law.
Amount and type of financial protection for licensees
Indemnification of licensees by Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Provided, howeverThe Commission shall, with respect to licenses issued between , and , for which it requires financial protection of less than $560,000,000, agree to indemnify and hold harmless the licensee and other persons indemnified, as their interest may appear, from public liability arising from nuclear incidents which is in excess of the level of financial protection required of the licensee. The aggregate indemnity for all persons indemnified in connection with each nuclear incident shall not exceed $500,000,000 excluding costs of investigating and settling claims and defending suits for damage: , That this amount of indemnity shall be reduced by the amount that the financial protection required shall exceed $60,000,000. Such a contract of indemnification shall cover public liability arising out of or in connection with the licensed activity. With respect to any production or utilization facility for which a construction permit is issued between , and , the requirements of this subsection shall apply to any license issued for such facility subsequent to .
Indemnification of contractors by Department of Energy
Limitation on aggregate public liability
Collection of fees by Nuclear Regulatory Commission
section 2133 of this titleProvidedsection 2134 of this titlesection 2235 of this titlesection 2134 of this titleThe Commission or the Secretary, as appropriate, is authorized to collect a fee from all persons with whom an indemnification agreement is executed under this section. This fee shall be $30 per year per thousand kilowatts of thermal energy capacity for facilities licensed under : , That the Commission or the Secretary, as appropriate, is authorized to reduce the fee for such facilities in reasonable relation to increases in financial protection required above a level of $60,000,000. For facilities licensed under , and for construction permits under , the Commission is authorized to reduce the fee set forth above. The Commission shall establish criteria in writing for determination of the fee for facilities licensed under , taking into consideration such factors as (1) the type, size, and location of facility involved, and other factors pertaining to the hazard, and (2) the nature and purpose of the facility. For other licenses, the Commission shall collect such nominal fees as it deems appropriate. No fee under this subsection shall be less than $100 per year.
Use of services of private insurers
section 6101 of title 41In administering the provisions of this section, the Commission or the Secretary, as appropriate, shall use, to the maximum extent practicable, the facilities and services of private insurance organizations, and the Commission or the Secretary, as appropriate, may contract to pay a reasonable compensation for such services. Any contract made under the provisions of this subsection may be made without regard to the provisions of upon a showing by the Commission or the Secretary, as appropriate, that advertising is not reasonably practicable and advance payments may be made.
Conditions of agreements of indemnification
The agreement of indemnification may contain such terms as the Commission or the Secretary, as appropriate, deems appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section. Such agreement shall provide that, when the Commission or the Secretary, as appropriate, makes a determination that the United States will probably be required to make indemnity payments under this section, the Commission or the Secretary, as appropriate, shall collaborate with any person indemnified and may approve the payment of any claim under the agreement of indemnification, appear through the Attorney General on behalf of the person indemnified, take charge of such action, and settle or defend any such action. The Commission or the Secretary, as appropriate, shall have final authority on behalf of the United States to settle or approve the settlement of any such claim on a fair and reasonable basis with due regard for the purposes of this chapter. Such settlement shall not include expenses in connection with the claim incurred by the person indemnified.
Compensation plans
Contracts in advance of appropriations
In administering the provisions of this section, the Commission or the Secretary, as appropriate, may make contracts in advance of appropriations and incur obligations without regard to sections 1341, 1342, 1349, 1350, and 1351, and subchapter II of chapter 15, of title 31.
Exemption from financial protection requirement for nonprofit educational institutions
Presidential commission on catastrophic nuclear accidents
Coordinated procedures for prompt settlement of claims and emergency assistance
The Commission or the Secretary, as appropriate, is authorized to enter into agreements with other indemnitors to establish coordinated procedures for the prompt handling, investigation, and settlement of claims for public liability. The Commission or the Secretary, as appropriate, and other indemnitors may make payments to, or for the aid of, claimants for the purpose of providing immediate assistance following a nuclear incident. Any funds appropriated to the Commission or the Secretary, as appropriate, shall be available for such payments. Such payments may be made without securing releases, shall not constitute an admission of the liability of any person indemnified or of any indemnitor, and shall operate as a satisfaction to the extent thereof of any final settlement or judgment.
Waiver of defenses and judicial procedures
Plan for distribution of funds
Reports to Congress
The Commission and the Secretary shall submit to the Congress by , detailed reports concerning the need for continuation or modification of the provisions of this section, taking into account the condition of the nuclear industry, availability of private insurance, and the state of knowledge concerning nuclear safety at that time, among other relevant factors, and shall include recommendations as to the repeal or modification of any of the provisions of this section.
Limitation on awarding of precautionary evacuation costs
No court may award costs of a precautionary evacuation unless such costs constitute a public liability.
Limitation on liability of lessors
No person under a bona fide lease of any utilization or production facility (or part thereof or undivided interest therein) shall be liable by reason of an interest as lessor of such production or utilization facility, for any legal liability arising out of or resulting from a nuclear incident resulting from such facility, unless such facility is in the actual possession and control of such person at the time of the nuclear incident giving rise to such legal liability.
Limitation on punitive damages
No court may award punitive damages in any action with respect to a nuclear incident or precautionary evacuation against a person on behalf of whom the United States is obligated to make payments under an agreement of indemnification covering such incident or evacuation.
Inflation adjustment
Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724Pub. L. 85–256, § 471 Stat. 576Pub. L. 85–60272 Stat. 525Pub. L. 85–74472 Stat. 837Pub. L. 87–206, § 1575 Stat. 479Pub. L. 87–61576 Stat. 410Pub. L. 88–39478 Stat. 376Pub. L. 89–21079 Stat. 855–857Pub. L. 89–64580 Stat. 891Pub. L. 94–19789 Stat. 1111–1115Pub. L. 100–408102 Stat. 1066–1068Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8)106 Stat. 2944Pub. L. 105–362, title XII, § 1201(b)112 Stat. 3292Pub. L. 107–314, div. C, title XXXI, § 3171116 Stat. 2743Pub. L. 108–7, div. O, § 101117 Stat. 551Pub. L. 108–375, div. C, title XXXI, § 3141118 Stat. 2171Pub. L. 109–58, title VI119 Stat. 779–781Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 612(c)120 Stat. 1410Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(260)136 Stat. 4334Pub. L. 118–47, div. G, title I, § 107(a)138 Stat. 857(, title I, § 170, as added , , ; amended , §§ 2, 2[3], , ; , , ; , , ; , §§ 6, 7, , ; , §§ 2, 3, , ; , §§ 1–5, , ; , §§ 2, 3, , ; , §§ 2–14, , ; , §§ 2–4(a), 5(c)–11(a), (c), (d)(1), 12–15, 16(a)(2), (b)(3)–(c), (d)(4)–(e), , , 1070–1080; renumbered title I, , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , §§ 602–608, , ; , , ; , , ; –(c), , .)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
act Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724act Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 168 Stat. 919section 2011 of this titleThis chapter, referred to in subsecs. (b)(1) and (h), was in the original “this Act”, meaning , as added by , , known as the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.
Public Law 85–804Pub. L. 85–80472 Stat. 972, referred to in subsec. (d)(1)(B)(i)(I), is , , , which is classified generally to chapter 29 (§ 1431 et seq.) of Title 50, War and National Defense. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.
The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, referred to in subsec. (n)(3)(C)(v), (vi), are set out in the Appendix to Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.
Codification
section 6101 of title 4141 U.S.C. 5Pub. L. 111–350, § 6(c)124 Stat. 3854In subsec. (g), “” substituted for “section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (), as amended” on authority of , , , which Act enacted Title 41, Public Contracts.
Amendments
Pub. L. 118–47, § 107(a)2024—, substituted “” for “” wherever appearing.
Pub. L. 118–47, § 107(b)(1)Subsec. (d)(5). , substituted “$2,000,000,000” for “$500,000,000”.
Pub. L. 118–47, § 107(b)(2)Subsec. (e)(4). , substituted “$2,000,000,000” for “$500,000,000”.
Pub. L. 118–47, § 107(c)Subsec. (p). , substituted “” for “”.
lPub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(260)(A)2022—Subsec. ()(1). , substituted “chapter 10 of title 5” for “the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)”.
lPub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(260)(B)(i)Subsec. ()(4)(A). , substituted “title 5.” for “the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) and title 5.”
lPub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(260)(B)(ii)Subsec. ()(4)(E), (F). , substituted “chapter 10 of title 5” for “the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)”.
Pub. L. 109–58, § 603(1)2005—Subsec. (b)(1). , substituted “$95,800,000” for “$63,000,000” and “$15,000,000 in any 1 year (subject to adjustment for inflation under subsection (t))” for “$10,000,000 in any 1 year” in second proviso of third sentence.
Pub. L. 109–58, § 608Subsec. (b)(5). , added par. (5).
Pub. L. 109–58, § 602(a)Subsec. (c). , substituted “licensees” for “licenses” in heading and substituted “” for “” in text wherever appearing.
Pub. L. 109–58, § 602(b)Subsec. (d)(1)(A). , substituted “” for “”.
Pub. L. 109–58, § 604(a)Subsec. (d)(2). , added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: “In agreements of indemnification entered into under paragraph (1), the Secretary may require the contractor to provide and maintain financial protection of such a type and in such amounts as the Secretary shall determine to be appropriate to cover public liability arising out of or in connection with the contractual activity, and shall indemnify the persons indemnified against such claims above the amount of the financial protection required, to the full extent of the aggregate public liability of the persons indemnified for each nuclear incident, including such legal costs of the contractor as are approved by the Secretary.”
Pub. L. 109–58, § 604(b)Subsec. (d)(3). , added par. (3) and struck out former par. (3) which read as follows:
“(3)(A) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), if the maximum amount of financial protection required of licensees under subsection (b) of this section is increased by the Commission, the amount of indemnity, together with any financial protection required of the contractor, shall at all times remain equal to or greater than the maximum amount of financial protection required of licensees under subsection (b) of this section.
“(B) The amount of indemnity provided contractors under this subsection shall not, at any time, be reduced in the event that the maximum amount of financial protection required of licensees is reduced.
“(C) All agreements of indemnification under which the Department of Energy (or its predecessor agencies) may be required to indemnify any person, shall be deemed to be amended, on , to reflect the amount of indemnity for public liability and any applicable financial protection required of the contractor under this subsection on .”
Pub. L. 109–58, § 605(a)Subsec. (d)(5). , substituted “$500,000,000” for “$100,000,000”.
Pub. L. 109–58, § 604(c)Subsec. (e)(1)(B). , struck out “the maximum amount of financial protection required under subsection (b) or” before “the amount of indemnity” and substituted “paragraph (2) of subsection (d)” for “paragraph (3) of subsection (d), whichever amount is more”.
Pub. L. 109–58, § 605(b)Subsec. (e)(4). , substituted “$500,000,000” for “$100,000,000”.
Pub. L. 109–58, § 602(c)Subsec. (k). , substituted “” for “” wherever appearing.
Pub. L. 109–58, § 606Subsec. (p). , substituted “” for “”.
Pub. L. 109–58, § 603(2)Subsec. (t)(1). , inserted “total and annual” before “standard deferred premium” in introductory provisions and substituted “” for “” in introductory provisions and subpar. (A).
Pub. L. 109–58, § 607Subsec. (t)(2), (3). , added par. (2) and redesignated former par. (2) as (3).
Pub. L. 108–3752004—Subsec. (d)(1)(A). substituted “until ” for “until ”.
Pub. L. 108–72003—Subsec. (c). substituted “” for “” wherever appearing.
Pub. L. 107–3142002—Subsec. (d)(1)(A). substituted “until ,” for “until ,”.
Pub. L. 105–3621998—Subsec. (p). struck out par. (1) designation and struck out par. (2) which read as follows: “Not later than April 1 of each year, the Commission and the Secretary shall each submit an annual report to the Congress setting forth the activities under this section during the preceding calendar year.”
Pub. L. 100–408, § 16(e)(1)1988—Subsec. (a). , inserted “Requirement of financial protection for licensees” as heading.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 16(d)(4)section 2012(i) of this title, substituted “section 2i.” for “subsection 2i. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended”, “subsection b.” for “subsection 170b.”, and “subsection c.” for “subsection 170c.”, which for purposes of codification were translated as “”, “subsection (b)”, and “subsection (c)”, respectively, thus requiring no change in text.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 16(a)(2), substituted “the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (in this section referred to as the ‘Commission’) in the exercise” for “the Commission in the exercise”.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 16(e)(2)Subsec. (b). , inserted “Amount and type of financial protection for licensees” as heading.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 2(a)oSubsec. (b)(1). –(c)(3), inserted par. (1) designation, inserted “primary” after “The amount of”, “the amount of”, “Such”, and “of such”, redesignated cls. (1) to (3) as (A) to (C), inserted “(excluding the amount of private liability insurance available under the industry retrospective rating plan required in this subsection)”, substituted “The Commission shall require licensees that are required to have and maintain primary financial protection equal to the maximum amount of liability insurance available from private sources to maintain, in addition to such primary financial protection,” for “In prescribing such terms and conditions for licensees required to have and maintain financial protection equal to the maximum amount of liability insurance available from private sources, the Commission shall, by rule initially prescribed not later than twelve months from , include, in determining such maximum amount”, substituted “That the maximum amount of the standard deferred premium that may be charged a licensee following any nuclear incident under such a plan shall not be more than $63,000,000 (subject to adjustment for inflation under subsection (t)), but not more than $10,000,000 in any 1 year, for each facility for which such licensee is required to maintain the maximum amount of primary financial protection” for “That the standard deferred premium which may be charged following any nuclear incident under such a plan shall be not less than $2,000,000 nor more than $5,000,000 for each facility required to maintain the maximum amount of financial protection”, inserted “(excluding legal costs subject to subsection ()(1)(D), payment of which has not been authorized under such subsection)”, and struck out “The Commission is authorized to establish a maximum amount which the aggregate deferred premiums charged for each facility within one calendar year may not exceed. The Commission may establish amounts less than the standard premium for individual facilities taking into account such factors as the facility’s size, location, and other factors pertaining to the hazard.”
Pub. L. 100–408, § 2(c)(4)Subsec. (b)(2). , added par. (2).
Pub. L. 100–408, § 2(d)(1)Subsec. (b)(3). , inserted par. (3) designation.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 2(d)(2)Subsec. (b)(4). , added par. (4).
Pub. L. 100–408, § 16(e)(3)Subsec. (c). , inserted “Indemnification of licenses by Nuclear Regulatory Commission” as heading.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 3, substituted “” for “” wherever appearing.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 4(a)Subsec. (d). , inserted “Indemnification of contractors by Department of Energy” as heading and completely revised and expanded subsec. (d), changing its structure from a single unnumbered subsection to one consisting of seven numbered paragraphs.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 6Subsec. (e). , inserted “Limitation on aggregate public liability” as heading and completely revised and expanded subsec. (e), changing its structure from a single unnumbered subsection to one consisting of four numbered paragraphs.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 16(e)(4)Subsec. (f). , inserted “Collection of fees by Nuclear Regulatory Commission” as heading.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 16(b)(3), inserted “or the Secretary, as appropriate,” in two places.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 16(e)(5)Subsec. (g). , inserted “Use of services of private insurers” as heading.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 16(c)(1)41 U.S.C. 5section 5 of title 41, substituted “section 3709 of the Revised Statutes ()” for “section 3709 of the Revised Statutes”, which for purposes of codification was translated as “”, thus requiring no change in text.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 16(b)(4), inserted “or the Secretary, as appropriate,” after “Commission”, wherever appearing.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 16(e)(6)Subsec. (h). , inserted “Conditions of agreements of indemnification” as heading.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 16(b)(4), inserted “or the Secretary, as appropriate,” after “Commission”, wherever appearing.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 7(a)Subsec. (i). , inserted “Compensation plans” as heading and completely revised and expanded subsec. (i), changing its structure from a single unnumbered subsection to one consisting of six numbered paragraphs.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 16(e)(7)Subsec. (j). , inserted “Contracts in advance of appropriations” as heading.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 16(c)(2), substituted “sections 1341, 1342, 1349, 1350, and 1351, and subchapter II of chapter 15, of title 31” for “section 3679 of the Revised Statutes, as amended”.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 16(b)(4), inserted “or the Secretary, as appropriate,”.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 16(e)(8)Subsec. (k). , inserted “Exemption from financial protection requirement for nonprofit educational institutions” as heading.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 16(d)(5), in introductory provisions substituted “subsection a” for “subsection 170a”, which for purposes of codification was translated as “subsection (a)”, thus requiring no change in text.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 8(1), substituted “” for “”, wherever appearing in introductory and closing provisions.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 8(2)Subsec. (k)(1). , substituted “including such legal costs of the licensee as are approved by the Commission” for “excluding cost of investigating and settling claims and defending suits for damage”.
lPub. L. 100–408, § 9lSubsec. (). , inserted “Presidential commission on catastrophic nuclear accidents” as heading and completely revised and expanded subsec. (), changing its structure from a single unnumbered subsection to one consisting of six numbered paragraphs.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 16(e)(9)Subsec. (m). , inserted “Coordinated procedures for prompt settlement of claims and emergency assistance” as heading.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 16(b)(4), inserted “or the Secretary, as appropriate,” after “Commission” wherever appearing.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 16(e)(10)Subsec. (n). , inserted “Waiver of defenses and judicial procedures” as heading.
Pub. L. 100–408Subsec. (n)(1). , §§ 10, 16(b)(5)(A), (d)(6), redesignated existing subpars. (a), (b), and (c) as (A), (B), and (C), respectively, added subpars. (D), (E), and (F), substituted “a Department of Energy contractor” for “a Commission contractor” in subpar. (C), and, in closing provisions inserted “, or the Secretary, as appropriate,” after “the Commission”, struck out “, but in no event more than twenty years after the date of the nuclear incident” after “and the cause thereof”, and substituted “subsection e” for “subsection 170e”, which for purposes of codification was translated as “subsection (e)”, requiring no change in text.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 16(b)(5)(B)Subsec. (n)(2). , inserted “or the Secretary, as appropriate” after “Commission”.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 11(a)section 1446 of title 28, substituted “a nuclear incident” for “an extraordinary nuclear occurrence” in two places and “the nuclear incident” for “the extraordinary nuclear occurrence”, and inserted “(including any such action pending on )”, and “In any action that is or becomes removable pursuant to this paragraph, a petition for removal shall be filed within the period provided in or within the 30-day period beginning on , whichever occurs later.”
Pub. L. 100–408, § 11(c)Subsec. (n)(3). , added par. (3).
oPub. L. 100–408, § 11(d)(1)Subsec. (). , inserted “Plan for distribution of funds” as heading, designated existing provisions as par. (1), redesignated former pars. (1) to (3) as subpars. (A) to (C), respectively, and added subpars. (D) and (E) and par. (2).
oPub. L. 100–408, § 7(b)(1)Subsec. ()(1). , substituted “the applicable limit of liability under subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of subsection (e)(1)” for “subsection (e)” in introductory provisions.
oPub. L. 100–408, § 16(d)(7)oSubsec. ()(1)(B). , substituted “subparagraph (C)” for “subparagraph (3) of this subsection ()”.
oPub. L. 100–408, § 16(b)(6)Subsec. ()(1)(C). , inserted “or the Secretary, as appropriate,” after first reference to “Commission” and “or the Secretary as appropriate” after second reference to “Commission”.
oPub. L. 100–408, § 7(b)(2)Subsec. ()(4). , struck out par. (4) which read as follows: “The Commission shall, within ninety days after a court shall have made such determination, deliver to the Joint Committee a supplement to the report prepared in accordance with subsection (i) of this section setting forth the estimated requirements for full compensation and relief of all claimants, and recommendations as to the relief to be provided.”
Pub. L. 100–408, § 16(e)(11)Subsec. (p). , inserted “Reports to Congress” as heading.
Pub. L. 100–408, § 12, designated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted “and the Secretary shall submit to the Congress by , detailed reports” for “shall submit to the Congress by , a detailed report”, and added par. (2).
Pub. L. 100–408, § 5(c)Subsec. (q). , added subsec. (q).
Pub. L. 100–408, § 13Subsec. (r). , added subsec. (r).
Pub. L. 100–408, § 14Subsec. (s). , added subsec. (s).
Pub. L. 100–408, § 15Subsec. (t). , added subsec. (t).
Pub. L. 94–197, § 2section 2012(i) of this title1975—Subsec. (a). , inserted provision relating to the public purposes cited in and “in the exercise of its licensing and regulatory authority and responsibility” after “as the Commission”, and substituted “required, it may” for “required, it shall”.
Pub. L. 94–197, § 3Subsec. (b). , inserted requirement that for facilities having a rated capacity of 100,000 electrical kilowatts or more, the amount of financial protection required shall be at a reasonable cost and on reasonable terms, and requirement that financial protection be subject to such terms and conditions as the Commission, by rule, regulation or order prescribes, and established premium and funding standards and procedures for prescribing terms and conditions for licensees required to have and maintain financial protection equal to the maximum amount of liability insurance available from private sources. Notwithstanding the directory language that amendment be made to section 107 b. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, the amendment was executed to section 170 b. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, (subsec. (b) of this section) as the probable intent of Congress.
Pub. L. 94–197, § 4Subsec. (c). , substituted “and , for which it requires financial protection of less than $560,000,000,” for “and , for which it requires financial protection,”, “excluding” for “including the reasonable”, and “” for “” in text relating to any production or utilization facility.
Pub. L. 94–197, § 5Subsec. (d). , substituted “until ,” for “until ,” and “excluding” for “including the reasonable”.
Pub. L. 94–197, § 6And provided furtherProvided furtherSubsec. (e). , designated existing provisions as cl. (1), added cl. (2), substituted proviso relating to Congressional review and action for proviso relating to aggregate liability exceeding the sum of $560,000,000, and substituted “” for “”.
Pub. L. 94–197, § 7Subsec. (f). , inserted proviso which authorized Commission to reduce the indemnity fee for persons with whom indemnification agreements have been executed in reasonable relation to increases in financial protection above a level of $60,000,000.
Pub. L. 94–197, § 8Subsec. (h). , substituted “shall not include” for “may include reasonable”.
Pub. L. 94–197, § 9Subsec. (i). , inserted “or which will probably result in public liability claims in excess of $560,000,000,” after “this section”, and requirement that Commission report extent of damage caused from a nuclear incident to the Congressmen of the affected districts and the Senators of the affected state and substituted provision relating to information concerning the national defense, for provisions relating to applicability of prohibition of sections 2161 to 2166 of this title, other laws or Executive order.
Pub. L. 94–197, § 10Subsec. (k). , substituted “” for “” wherever appearing and substituted “excluding” for “including the reasonable” in par. (1).
lPub. L. 94–197, § 11Subsec. (). , substituted “excluding” for “including the reasonable”.
Pub. L. 94–197, § 12Subsec. (n)(1)(iii). , substituted “twenty years” for “ten years”.
oPub. L. 94–197, § 13Subsec. ()(3), (4). , in par. (3) inserted provisions authorizing the establishment, in any plan for disposition of claims, of priorities between classes of claims and claimants to extent necessary to ensure the most equitable allocation of available funds, and added par. (4).
Pub. L. 94–197, § 14Subsec. (p). , added subsec. (p).
Pub. L. 89–645, § 2o1966—Subsec. (e). , struck out last sentence which authorized application by the Commission or any indemnified person to district court of the United States having venue in bankruptcy over location of nuclear incident and to United States District Court for the District of Columbia in cases of nuclear incidents occurring outside the United States, and upon a showing that public liability from a single nuclear incident will probably exceed the limit of imposable liability, entitled the applicant to orders for enforcement of this section, including limitation of liability of indemnified persons, staying payment of claims and execution of court judgments, apportioning payments to claimants, permitting partial payments before final determination of total claims, and setting aside part of funds for possible injuries not discovered until later time, now incorporated in subsec. () of this section.
oPub. L. 89–645, § 3oSubsecs. (m) to (). , added subsecs. (m) to ().
Pub. L. 89–210, § 11965—Subsec. (c). , substituted “” for “” wherever appearing, and inserted proviso requiring the amount of indemnity to be reduced by the amount that the financial protection required shall exceed $60,000,000.
Pub. L. 89–210, § 2Subsec. (d). , substituted “” for “,” and inserted proviso requiring the amount of indemnity to be reduced by the amount that the financial protection required shall exceed $60,000,000.
Pub. L. 89–210, § 3Subsec. (e). , inserted proviso prohibiting the aggregate liability to exceed the sum of $560,000,000.
Pub. L. 89–210, § 4Subsec. (k). , substituted “” for “” wherever appearing.
lPub. L. 89–210, § 5Subsec. (). , substituted “” for “” and “in the amount of $500,000,000” for “in the maximum amount provided by subsection (e) of this section”, inserted “in the aggregate for all persons indemnified in connection with each nuclear incident”, and inserted proviso requiring the amount of indemnity to be reduced by the amount that the financial protection required shall exceed $60,000,000.
Pub. L. 88–394, § 21964—Subsec. (c). , provided that with respect to any facility for which a permit is issued between , and , the requirements of the subsection shall apply to any license issued subsequent to .
Pub. L. 88–394, § 3Subsec. (k). , provided that with respect to any facility for which a permit is issued between , and , the requirements of the subsection shall apply to any license issued subsequent to .
Pub. L. 87–615, § 61962—Subsec. (d). , limited the amount of indemnity provided by the Commission for nuclear incidents occurring outside the United States to $100,000,000.
Pub. L. 87–615, § 7Subsec. (e). , inserted proviso limiting the aggregate liability in cases of nuclear incidents occurring outside the United States to which an indemnification agreement entered into under subsec. (d) of this section is applicable, to $100,000,000, and substituted “occurring outside the United States, the Commission or any person indemnified may apply to the United States District Court for the District of Columbia” for “caused by ships of the United States outside of the United States, the Commission or any person indemnified may apply to the appropriate district court of the United States having venue in bankruptcy matters over the location of the principal place of business of the shipping company owning or operating the ship”.
Pub. L. 87–2061961—Subsec. (d). inserted provision for liability of contractor to extent of indemnification under this section free of defense of sovereign immunity.
Pub. L. 85–602, § 2[3]1958—Subsec. (e). , gave the district court that has venue in bankruptcy matters over the location of the principal place of business of the shipping company owning or operating the ship, jurisdiction in cases of nuclear incidents caused by ships of the United States outside of the United States.
Pub. L. 85–744Subsec. (k). added subsec. (k).
lPub. L. 85–602, § 2lSubsec. (). , added subsec. ().
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
lsection 612(c) of Pub. L. 109–295section 313 of Title 6Pub. L. 109–295section 612(f)(2) of Pub. L. 109–295section 313 of Title 6“Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency” substituted for “Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency” in subsec. ()(4)(C) on authority of , set out as a note under , Domestic Security. Any reference to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in title VI of or an amendment by title VI to be considered to refer and apply to the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency until , see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 2005 Amendment
Pub. L. 109–58, title VI, § 609119 Stat. 781
Effective Date of 1988 Amendment
Pub. L. 100–408section 11 of Pub. L. 100–408section 20 of Pub. L. 100–408section 2014 of this titleAmendment by effective , and applicable with respect to nuclear incidents occurring on or after , except that amendment by applicable to nuclear incidents occurring before, on, or after , see , set out as a note under .
Short Title
This section is popularly known as the “Price-Anderson Act” and also as the “Atomic Energy Damages Act”.
Transfer of Functions
section 315(a)(1) of Title 6For transfer of all functions, personnel, assets, components, authorities, grant programs, and liabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the functions of the Under Secretary for Federal Emergency Management relating thereto, to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, see , Domestic Security.
section 542 of Title 6For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including the functions of the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see former section 313(1) and sections 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of , as modified, set out as a note under .
Termination of Advisory Commissions
Advisory commissions established after , to terminate not later than the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date of their establishment, unless, in the case of a commission established by the President or an officer of the Federal Government, such commission is renewed by appropriate action prior to the expiration of such 2-year period, or in the case of a commission established by the Congress, its duration is otherwise provided for by law. See sections 1001(2) and 1013 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
Findings
Pub. L. 106–245, § 2114 Stat. 501
Affidavits
Pub. L. 106–245, § 3(e)(2)114 Stat. 507
In general .—
Affidavits .—
GAO Reports
Pub. L. 106–245, § 3(i)114 Stat. 508Pub. L. 101–42642 U.S.C. 2210Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title I, § 11007(b)116 Stat. 1818section 14 of Pub. L. 101–426, , , which required General Accounting Office, not later than 18 months after , and every 18 months thereafter, to submit a report to Congress containing a detailed accounting of the administration of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (, note) by the Department of Justice, was repealed by , , . See , set out below.
Radiation Exposure Compensation
Pub. L. 101–426104 Stat. 920Pub. L. 101–510, div. C, title XXXI104 Stat. 1835Pub. L. 102–486, title XXX, § 3018106 Stat. 3131Pub. L. 106–245, § 3(a)114 Stat. 502–508Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title X, § 1063115 Stat. 1232Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title I, § 11007(a)116 Stat. 1817Pub. L. 108–271, § 8(b)118 Stat. 814Pub. L. 108–375, div. C, title XXXI, § 3165(b)118 Stat. 2187Pub. L. 108–447, div. B, title I, § 122118 Stat. 2870Pub. L. 110–161, div. H, title I, § 1502(g)121 Stat. 2250Pub. L. 117–139, § 2136 Stat. 1258Pub. L. 119–21, title X139 Stat. 394–401
SHORT TITLE.
“This Act may be cited as the ‘Radiation Exposure Compensation Act’.
FINDINGS, PURPOSE, AND APOLOGY.
Findings .—
Purpose .—
Apology .—
TRUST FUND.
Establishment .—
Investment of Amounts in the Fund .—
Availability of the Fund .—
Termination .—
Appropriation.—
In general .—
Limitation .—
CLAIMS RELATING TO ATMOSPHERIC NUCLEAR TESTING.
Claims.—
Claims relating to leukemia.—
In general .—
Amount .—
Conditions .—
Claims Relating to Specified Diseases .—
Conformity with section 6 .—
Exclusion .—
Definitions .—
CLAIMS RELATING TO URANIUM MINING.
Eligibility of Individuals.—
In general .—
Inclusion of additional states .—
Payment requirement .—
Special rule relating to combined work histories for individuals with at least one year of experience .—
Special rule relating to combined work histories for miners .—
Definitions .—
Written Documentation.—
Diagnosis alternative to arterial blood gas study.—
In general .—
Certain written diagnoses.—
In general .—
Description of physicians .—
Chest x-rays.—
In general .—
Certain written diagnoses.—
In general .—
Description of physicians .—
CLAIMS RELATING TO MANHATTAN PROJECT WASTE.
General In .—
Losses Available to Living Affected Individuals.—
In general .—
Losses due to medical expenses .—
Limitation .—
Payments to Beneficiaries of Deceased Individuals .—
Affected Areas .—
Specified Disease .—
Physical Presence.—
In general .—
Types of physical presence .—
Disease Contraction in Affected Areas .—
DETERMINATION AND PAYMENT OF CLAIMS.
Establishment of Filing Procedures .—
Determination of Claims.—
In general .—
Consultation .—
Payment of Claims.—
In general .—
Offset for certain payments .—
Right of subrogation .—
Payments in the case of deceased persons.—
In general .—
Individuals who are survivors .—
Definitions .—
Application of native american law .—
Action on Claims.—
In general .—
Additional information .—
Treatment of period associated with request.—
In general .—
Period .—
Payment within 6 weeks .—
Native american considerations .—
Payment in Full Settlement of Claims Against the United States .—
Administrative Costs Not Paid From the Fund .—
Termination of Duties of Attorney General .—
Certification of Treatment of Payments Under Other Laws .—
Use of Existing Resources .—
Regulatory Authority .—
Issuance of Regulations, Guidelines, and Procedures .—
Judicial Review .—
CLAIMS NOT ASSIGNABLE OR TRANSFERABLE; CHOICE OF REMEDIES.
Claims Not Assignable or Transferable .—
Choice of Remedies .—
LIMITATIONS ON CLAIMS.
In General .—
Resubmittal of Claims .—
ATTORNEY FEES.
General Rule .—
Applicable Percentage Limitations .—
Penalty .—
CERTAIN CLAIMS NOT AFFECTED BY AWARDS OF DAMAGES.
“A payment made under this Act shall not be considered as any form of compensation or reimbursement for a loss for purposes of imposing liability on any individual receiving such payment, on the basis of such receipt, to repay any insurance carrier for insurance payments, or to repay any person on account of worker’s compensation payments; and a payment under this Act shall not affect any claim against an insurance carrier with respect to insurance or against any person with respect to worker’s compensation.
BUDGET ACT.
“No authority under this Act to enter into contracts or to make payments shall be effective in any fiscal year except to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriations Acts.
REPORT.
Report .—
Completion .—
REPEAL.
Negotiated Rulemaking on Financial Protection for Radiopharmaceutical Licensees
Pub. L. 100–408, § 19102 Stat. 1083
Rulemaking Proceeding.—
Purpose .—
Final determination .—
Negotiated Rulemaking.—
Administrative conference guidelines .—
Designation of convener .—
Submission of recommendations of the convener .—
Publication of recommendations and proposed rule .—
Administrative procedures .—
Executive Documents
Executive Order No. 12658
section 1013 of Title 5Ex. Ord. No. 12658, , 53 F.R. 47517, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 12665, , 54 F.R. 1919, which established President’s Commission on Catastrophic Nuclear Accidents, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12774, § 3(c), , 56 F.R. 49836, formerly set out as a note under , Government Organization and Employees.
Executive Order No. 12891
section 1013 of Title 5Ex. Ord. No. 12891, , 59 F.R. 2935, which established the Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13062, § 3(a), , 62 F.R. 51756, formerly set out as a note under , Government Organization and Employees.