§2013. Purpose of chapter

It is the purpose of this chapter to effectuate the policies set forth above by providing for-

(a) a program of conducting, assisting, and fostering research and development in order to encourage maximum scientific and industrial progress;

(b) a program for the dissemination of unclassified scientific and technical information and for the control, dissemination, and declassification of Restricted Data, subject to appropriate safeguards, so as to encourage scientific and industrial progress;

(c) a program for Government control of the possession, use, and production of atomic energy and special nuclear material, whether owned by the Government or others, so directed as to make the maximum contribution to the common defense and security and the national welfare, and to provide continued assurance of the Government's ability to enter into and enforce agreements with nations or groups of nations for the control of special nuclear materials and atomic weapons;

(d) a program to encourage widespread participation in the development and 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;

(e) a program of international cooperation to promote the common defense and security and to make available to cooperating nations the benefits of peaceful applications of atomic energy as widely as expanding technology and considerations of the common defense and security will permit; and

(f) a program of administration which will be consistent with the foregoing policies and programs, with international arrangements, and with agreements for cooperation, which will enable the Congress to be currently informed so as to take further legislative action as may be appropriate.

(Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, §3, as added Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, §1, 68 Stat. 922 ; amended Pub. L. 88–489, §3, Aug. 26, 1964, 78 Stat. 602 ; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, §902(a)(8), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2944 .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in text, was in the original "this Act", meaning act Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, as added by act Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, §1, 68 Stat. 919 , 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 section 2011 of this title and Tables.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 3 of act Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, 60 Stat. 758 , which related to research and development activities by the Atomic Energy Commission, was classified to section 1803 of this title, prior to the general amendment of act Aug. 1, 1946, by act Aug. 30, 1954.

Sections 4 to 10 of act Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, 60 Stat. 759–766 , which related to production of fissionable material, prohibited acts, ownership and operation of production facilities, irradiation of materials, and manufacture of production facilities; control of fissionable materials; military application of atomic energy; license requirements for utilization of atomic energy, reports to Congress, and issuance of licenses; force and effect of international agreements; property of Commission and its exempt status from taxation; and control of information, were classified to sections 1804 to 1810, respectively, of this title, prior to the general amendment of act Aug. 1, 1946, by act Aug. 30, 1954. Section numbers 4 to 10 were not repeated in the general amendment of act Aug. 1, 1946.

Amendments

1964-Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 88–489 inserted "whether owned by the Government or others" and "and to provide continued assurance of the Government's ability to enter into and enforce agreements with nations or groups of nations for the control of special nuclear materials and atomic weapons".