Cleanup
Atomic Energy Act
The Atomic Energy Act (AEA) was originally passed by the U.S. Congress in 1946 following World War II and the demonstration of the power of the atom. The AEA is the fundamental U.S. law on both civilian and military uses of nuclear materials. On the civilian side, the AEA provides for both the development and the regulation of the uses of nuclear materials and facilities in the United States, declaring the policy that the development and utilization of atomic energy shall “be directed toward improving the public welfare, increasing the standard of living, strengthening free competition in private enterprise, and promoting world peace." In 1954, the U.S. Congress amended the AEA to encourage the development of commercial nuclear power. These amendments allowed private industry to own and operate nuclear power plants to generate electricity for the public.
The AEA provides authority for setting the standards for the use of nuclear materials to promote the nation's common defense, protect health, and minimize potential danger to life or property. These standards were originally enforced and regulated by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). The U.S. Congress created the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to replace the AEC when it passed the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974. This Act gave the NRC the responsibility for regulating various commercial, industrial, academic, and medical uses of nuclear materials and nuclear energy.