Atomic energy is capable of application for peaceful as well as military purposes. It is therefore declared to be the policy of the United States that—
the development, use, and control of atomic energy shall be directed so as to make the maximum contribution to the general welfare, subject at all times to the paramount objective of making the maximum contribution to the common defense and security; and
the development, use, and control of atomic energy shall be directed so as to promote world peace, improve the general welfare, increase the standard of living, and strengthen free competition in private enterprise.
Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 168 Stat. 921Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8)106 Stat. 2944(, title I, § 1, as added , ; renumbered title I, , , .)
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
act Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 72460 Stat. 755section 1801 of this titleA prior section 1 of , , which related to declaration of policy and purpose of former chapter 14 of this title, was classified to , prior to the general amendment and renumbering of act , by act .
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Short Title of 2024 Amendment
Pub. L. 118–67, div. B, § 1(a)138 Stat. 1448
“This division [enacting sections 2155b, 2201b, and 10109 of this title, amending sections 2014, 2133, 2134, 2215, 2231, 2235, 5843, and 16274a of this title, enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 2073, 2077, 2133, 2155, 2201, 2201b, 2215, 2235, and 16281 of this title, and amending provisions set out as notes under sections 2133 and 2215 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Accelerating Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy Act of 2024’ or the ‘ADVANCE Act of 2024’.”
, , , provided that:
Pub. L. 118–62, § 1138 Stat. 1022
section 2297h–10a of this titlesection 2297h–10a of this title“This Act [amending and enacting provisions set out as a note under ] may be cited as the ‘Prohibiting Russian Uranium Imports Act’.”
, , , provided that:
Short Title of 2022 Amendment
Pub. L. 117–139, § 1136 Stat. 1258
section 2210 of this title“This Act [amending provisions set out as a note under ] may be cited as the ‘RECA Extension Act of 2022’.”
, , , provided that:
Short Title of 2019 Amendment
Pub. L. 115–439, § 1(a)132 Stat. 5565
section 2215 of this titlesection 2214 of this title“This Act [enacting , amending sections 2134 and 2214 of this title, repealing , and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 2133, 2134, 2214, and 2215 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act’.”
, , , provided that:
Short Title of 2015 Amendment
Pub. L. 114–17, § 1129 Stat. 201
section 2160e of this title“This Act [enacting ] may be cited as the ‘Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015’.”
, , , provided that:
Short Title of 2013 Amendment
Pub. L. 112–239, div. C, title XXXI, § 3171126 Stat. 2211
Pub. L. 112–239section 2160d of this titlesection 2065 of this title“This subtitle [subtitle F (§§ 3171–3178) of title XXXI of div. C of , enacting sections 2065 and 2142 of this title, amending , and enacting provisions set out as a note under ] may be cited as the ‘American Medical Isotopes Production Act of 2012’.”
, , , provided that:
Short Title of 2005 Amendment
Pub. L. 109–58, title VI, § 601119 Stat. 779
Pub. L. 109–58“This subtitle [subtitle A (§§ 601–610) of title VI of , amending sections 2210 and 2282a of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 2210 and 2282a of this title] may be cited as the ‘Price-Anderson Amendments Act of 2005’.”
, , , provided that:
Short Title of 2000 Amendment
Pub. L. 106–245, § 1114 Stat. 501
section 285a–9 of this titlesection 2210 of this title“This Act [enacting and enacting and amending provisions set out as notes under ] may be cited as the ‘Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Amendments of 2000’.”
, , , provided that:
Short Title of 1996 Amendment
Pub. L. 104–134, title III, § 3101110 Stat. 1321–335
Pub. L. 104–134section 9101 of Title 31section 2297 of this titlesection 9101 of Title 31“This subchapter [subch. A (§§ 3101–3117) of ch. 1 of title III of , enacting sections 2297h to 2297h–13 of this title, amending sections 2014, 2239, 2243, 2282, 2296b–7, 2297f, and 2297f–1 of this title and , Money and Finance, repealing sections 2297 to 2297e–7 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under and ] may be cited as the ‘USEC Privatization Act’.”
, , , provided that:
Short Title of 1988 Amendment
Pub. L. 100–408, § 1102 Stat. 1066
section 2282a of this title“This Act [enacting , amending sections 2014, 2210, and 2273 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 2014 and 2210 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Price-Anderson Amendments Act of 1988’.”
, , , provided that:
Short Title of 1964 Amendment
Pub. L. 88–489, § 2178 Stat. 607
section 2072 of this title“This Act [amending sections 2012, 2013, 2073 to 2078, 2135, 2153, 2201, 2221, 2233, and 2234 of this title, repealing , and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 2012 and 2072 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Private Ownership of Special Nuclear Materials Act’.”
, , , provided that:
Short Title of 1958 Amendment
Pub. L. 85–846, § 172 Stat. 1084
“That this Act [enacting sections 2291 to 2296 of this title] may be cited as the ‘EURATOM Cooperation Act of 1958’.”
, , , provided:
Short Title
Act Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 291act Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 168 Stat. 960Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8)106 Stat. 2944
“This Act [enacting this chapter, amending sections 190j and 622 of Title 2, The Congress, and repealing sections 2251 to 2257 and 2315 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Atomic Energy Act of 1954’.”
, as added by , ; renumbered title I, , , , provided that:
Savings Clause
Pub. L. 118–67, div. B, title VI, § 603138 Stat. 1482
“Nothing in this Act [probably means “this division”, see Short Title of 2024 Amendment note above] affects authorities of the Department of State.”
, , , provided that:
Separability
Act Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 281Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8)106 Stat. 2944
“If any provision of this Act [see Short Title note above] or the application of such provision to any person or circumstances, is held invalid, the remainder of this Act or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby.”
, as added by act , § 1; renumbered title I, , , , provided that:
Transfer of Functions
Atomic Energy Commission abolished and functions transferred by sections 5814 and 5841 of this title. See also Transfer of Functions notes set out under those sections.
Definitions
Pub. L. 118–67, div. B, § 2138 Stat. 1449
“In this division [see Short Title of 2024 Amendment note above]:“(1) “(2) “(3)“(A) “(B)
“(4) “(5) “(6)“(A) “(B)
“(7) “(8) “(9)
, , , provided that:
Accident tolerant fuel .—
Public Law 115–439132 Stat. 5577The term ‘accident tolerant fuel’ has the meaning given the term in section 107(a) of the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act (; ).
Administrator .—
The term ‘Administrator’ means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Advanced nuclear fuel .—
The term ‘advanced nuclear fuel’ means—
advanced nuclear reactor fuel; and
accident tolerant fuel.
Advanced nuclear reactor .—
42 U.S.C. 2215Public Law 115–439The term ‘advanced nuclear reactor’ has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act ( note; ).
Advanced nuclear reactor fuel .—
42 U.S.C. 2215Public Law 115–439The term ‘advanced nuclear reactor fuel’ has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Nuclear Energy Innovation and Modernization Act ( note; ).
Appropriate committees of Congress .—
The term ‘appropriate committees of Congress’ means—
the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the Senate; and
the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives.
Commission .—
The term ‘Commission’ means the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Institution of higher education .—
20 U.S.C. 1001(a)The term ‘institution of higher education’ has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ().
National laboratory .—
42 U.S.C. 15801The term ‘National Laboratory’ has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ().”