The atomic energy commission aec was authorized by the atomic energy act of 1946. Energy act of 1954 and the nuclear waste policy act nwpa. This act transferred control of all aspects of atomic nuclear. Atomic energy authority act 1954 account 20042005 hc 389. The nuclear regulatory commission described the atomic energy act as, the fundamental u. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the united states of america in congress assembled, atomic energy act of 1954 table of contents2 title iatomic energy chapter 1. This publication is a compilation of the text of chapter 724 of the 83rd congress. The energy reorganization act of 1974 redirected federal energy efforts.
Likewise, the nrc played the role of a regulator under the new act. It is the purpose of this act to effectuate the policies set out in section 1a by providing, among others, for the following major programs relating to atomic energy. The bill proposed the creation of the atomic energy commission, a civilian committee made up of five members, one of whom would be the chairman and serve as a spokesperson. Atomic energy commission united states organization. A history of the atomic energy commission the national security. Was passed so the government could monitor the commercial and national defense uses of atomic energy. An act to provide for the setting up of an atomic energy authority for the united kingdom, to make provision as to their powers, duties, rights and liabilities, to amend, consequentially on the establishment of and otherwise in connection with that authority, the atomic energy act, 1946, the radioactive substances act, 1948, and certain other enactments, and for purposes connected with the. Resdat stands for restricted data atomic energy act of 1954. Specifically, the secretary may authorize the arrest.
After some debate, this resulted in the atomic energy act of 1954. Congress determined that the public interest would best be served by separating the licensing and related functions of the atomic energy commission aec from energy development and related functions. Atomic energy commission atomic heritage foundation. Federal register authority of doe protective force. Eisenhower, acknowledging the united states no longer holds a monopoly on nuclear power, signs the atomic energy act of 1954. In the atomic energy act of 1954 the term special nuclear material has been substituted for that of fissionable material, although the definitions are substantially the same. The new act also permitted private industries to build nuclear reactors for the generation of electricity. It covers the laws for the development and the regulation of the uses of nuclear materials and facilities in the u. At its top level, it divides the world of legislation into fifty topicallyorganized titles, and each title is further subdivided into any number of logical subtopics. Since the abolition of the aec, much of the aea has been carried out by the nuclear regulatory commission and the u. Subsequent to a finding by the commission as required in section 102, the commission may issue licenses to transfer or receive in interstate commerce, manufacture, produce, transfer, acquire, possess, import, or export under the terms of an agreement for cooperation arranged pursuant to section 123, such type of utilization or. Governing legislation the nrc was established by the energy reorganization act of 1974.
Sections that were enacted as part of the 1954 general amendment are shown herein as having been added to act. Resdat is defined as restricted data atomic energy act of 1954 very rarely. The act establishes a general regulatory structure for construction and use of nuclear power. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the united states of america in congress assembled, declaration of policy.
Later, congress passed the atomic energy act, 1954, which ended the monopoly on atomic energy exercised by the atomic energy commission. It would become the atomic energy act, alternately known as the mcmahon act, and was passed in july 1946. The atomic energy act aea established the atomic energy commission aec to promote the utilization of atomic energy for peaceful purposes to the maximum extent consistent with the common defense and security and with the health and safety of the public. Department of energy doe employees and contractors to make an arrest without a warrant for certain crimes. The act establishes a general regulatory structure for construction and use of nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons facilities. The atomic energy act of 1954, as amended aea, provides the department of energy doe unique authority to perform a broad range of activities related to nuclear weapons. A bill to amend the atomic energy act of 1954, as amended, to enable congress to concur in or disapprove international agreements for cooperation in. Atomic energy act of 1954 was an amendment to the atomic energy act of 1946. Under the new act, erda was assigned with the task of development and production of nuclear weapons, promotion of nuclear power, and other energy related work. To amend the atomic energy act of 1954 and the energy policy act of 2005 to support licensing and relicensing of certain nuclear facilities and nuclear energy research, demonstration, and development, and for other purposes. The nrc issues licences for transfer, delivery, acquisition, ownership, possession or. Atomic energy act and related legislation department of. This act is seen being signed by harry truman in fig.
The atomic energy act of 1946 was renamed the atomic energy act of 1954 and amended generally by act aug. The new act also established two new agencies such as the nuclear regulatory commission nrc and the energy research and development administration erda. Skip to main content accessibility options home act. Atomic energy authority act 1954 1954 chapter 32 2 and 3 eliz 2. Atomic energy authority act 1954 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 12 april 2020. The atomic energy act of 1954 proved insufficient in its objective of encouraging privately built and run nuclear reactors. In order for a country to enter into such an agreement with the united states, that country must commit to a set of nine nonproliferation criteria. It was last amended by the public law listed in the as amended through note above and below at the bottom of each page of the pdf version and. Code chapter 23 development and control of atomic energy. Section 55 of the atomic energy act of 1954, as amended, is amended to read as follows. Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the united states of america in congress assembled. F10words substituted by acquisition of land act 1981 c. Atomic energy authority act 1954 account 20042005 2 foreword these accounts comply with the provisions of section 43 of the atomic energy authority act 1954 and directions issued by hm treasury. In 1946, the atomic energy act was first passed and was established by the atomic energy commission aec.
A summary and a text of this law, as well as other key laws that govern our operations, are provided below. Through note above and below at the bottom of each page of the pdf version and reflects current. The effect of the use of atomic energy for civilian purposes upon the social, economic, and. Later, the energy reorganization act, 1974 replaced the atomic energy act, 1954. Atomic energy act of 1946 public law 585 79th congress chapter 724 2d session s. Regulated privately owned nuclear fuels and production facilities, pursuant to atomic energy act amendments of 1954 68 stat. Congressional session and signed into law by president dwight eisenhower on august 30, 1954. Atomic energy act of 1954 oak ridge national laboratory. Government concerns included radiation hazards and the disposal of radioactive waste.
Atomic energy act of 1954 4 4 section 3173a of public law 107314 116 stat. Atomic energy act of 1954 law and legal definition uslegal. Records of the atomic energy commission aec national. An act to provide for the setting up of an atomic energy authority for the united kingdom, to make provision as to their powers, duties, rights and liabilities, to amend, consequentially on the establishment of and otherwise in connection with that authority, the atomic energy act, 1946, the radioactive substances act, 1948, and. Federal courts void california and new york city nuclear power laws 9 elr 10045 the mishap at the three mile island generating plant near harrisburg, pennsylvania is but the latest spur to an intensifying national debate over the merits of nuclear power. Atomic energy act and related legislation department of energy. The atomic energy act of 1946 arms control, deterrence.
The presidents atomsforpeace speech also focused attention on the need for a fundamental revision of the. Skip to main content accessibility options home actrules. There was no conforming amendment made to add a new item for this section to the table of sections. Recipient name, address, and email address statepublic controlled institutior regents of the university of california, the of higher education university of california, berkeley grant duns. Enabling statute of the defense nuclear facilities safety. The atomic energy act of 1954, as amended public law 83703 68 stat. An act to amend the atomic energy act of 1954, as amended, to authorize the commission to issue temporary operating licenses for nuclear power reactors under certain circumstances, and for other purposes.
Amendments to the act in 1954 gave the aec new latitude with which to promote and regulate nuclear power. Records of the atomic energy commission aec national archives. Atomic energy commission under the atomic energy act of 1954. The atomic energy act of 1946 for the development and control of atomic energy research and experimentation in the field of nuclear fission have attained the stage at which the release of atomic energy on a large scale is practical. It assumed the operations of the manhattan project on january 1, 1947, which began in 1942 to produce the first atomic bomb. Classification under the atomic energy act introduction the atomic energy act of 1946 was the first and, other than its successor, the atomic energy act of 1954, to date the only u. The legislation grew out of the need many outside of government and the military, including scientists who had worked on the manhattan project, felt for establishing independent. Nuclear legislation in oecd countries nuclear energy agency. This act was passed to monitor the commercial and national defense uses of atomic energy.
In 1953 the atomic energy commission presented a set of draft amendments to the joint committee on atomic energy for consideration. The atomic energy act of 1946 arms control, deterrence and. Protection against inadvertent release of restricted data and formerly restricted data a plan for protection against release the secretary of energy and the archivist of the united states shall, after consultation with the members of the national security council and in consultation with the secretary of defense and the heads of other appropriate federal. In this section, the term restricted data has the meaning given that term in section 11 y. The united states also has an interest in the effec. The atomic energy act of 1954 act is the fundamental u. Atomic energy act of 1954 law and legal definition. Atomic energy act aea of 1954 establishes the conditions and outlines the process for major nuclear cooperation between the united states and other countries. The significance of the atomic bomb for military purposes is evident. It was originally enacted as the atomic energy act of 1946, act aug. Energy commission under the atomic energy act of 1954, as amended to regulate source. The atomic energy act of 1954, though it is the latest version of the law, was not the first to be passed regarding the uses of nuclear materials. An act for the development and control of atomic energy. An act to provide for the setting up of an atomic energy authority for the united kingdom, to make provision.
Be it enacted by parliament in the thirteenth year of the republic of india as follows. Cooperation with other nations no cooperation with any nation, group of nations or regional defense organization pursuant to section 53, 54a. Atomic energy act legal definition merriamwebster law. Atomic energy is capable of application for peaceful as well as. Home actrules the atomic energy act, 1962 the atomic energy act, 1962 back no. The united states code is meant to be an organized, logical compilation of the laws passed by congress. How is restricted data atomic energy act of 1954 abbreviated. All civilian use of nuclear materials must be licensed by the nuclear regulatory commission the nrc has the authority to make new rules and regulations in order to protect health and safety and minimize danger to life and property president truman civilian use premise the. The atomic energy act of 1954, which is classified principally to this chapter, is act aug. To amend the atomic energy act of 1946, as amended, and for other purposes. Atomic energy defense provisions national archives. A bill to amend the atomic energy act of 1954, as amended. Atomic energy act of 1954, as amended nuclear threat initiative. The secretary of energy and the nuclear regulatory commission nrc have responsibility for implementation of the atomic energy act of 1954, of which the priceanderson act is a part, and the united states has an interest in the efficient and equitable adjudication of nuclear liability claims.
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