- § 2131. License required
- § 2132. Utilization and production facilities for industrial or commercial purposes
- § 2133. Commercial licenses
- § 2134. Medical, industrial, and commercial licenses
- § 2135. Antitrust provisions governing licenses
- § 2136. Classes of facilities
- § 2137. Operators’ licenses
- § 2138. Suspension of licenses during war or national emergency
- § 2139. Component and other parts of facilities
- § 2139a. Regulations implementing requirements relating to licensing for components and other parts of facilities
- § 2140. Exclusions from license requirement
- § 2141. Licensing by Nuclear Regulatory Commission of distribution of special nuclear material, source material, and byproduct material by Department of Energy
- § 2142. Domestic medical isotope production
§ 2131. License required
It shall be unlawful, except as provided in section 2121 of this title, for any person within the United States to transfer or receive in interstate commerce, manufacture, produce, transfer, acquire, possess, use, import, or export any utilization or production facility except under and in accordance with a license issued by the Commission pursuant to section 2133 or 2134 of this title.
(Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 101, as added Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 1, 68 Stat. 936; amended Aug. 6, 1956, ch. 1015, § 11, 70 Stat. 1071; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2944.)
§ 2132. Utilization and production facilities for industrial or commercial purposes
(a) Issuance of licenses
(b) Facilities constructed or operated under section 2134(b)
(c) Cooperative Power Reactor Demonstration facilities
(Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 102, as added Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 1, 68 Stat. 936; amended Pub. L. 91–560, § 3, Dec. 19, 1970, 84 Stat. 1472; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2944.)
§ 2133. Commercial licenses
(a) Conditions
(b) Nonexclusive basis
(c) License period
(d) Limitations
(f)1
1 So in original. Probably should be “(e)”.
Accident notification condition; license revocation; license amendment to include condition(Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 103, as added Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 1, 68 Stat. 936; amended Aug. 6, 1956, ch. 1015, §§ 12, 13, 70 Stat. 1071; Pub. L. 91–560, § 4, Dec. 19, 1970, 84 Stat. 1472; Pub. L. 96–295, title II, § 201, June 30, 1980, 94 Stat. 786; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2944; Pub. L. 109–58, title VI, § 621, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 782; Pub. L. 118–67, div. B, title III, § 301(c), July 9, 2024, 138 Stat. 1466.)
§ 2134. Medical, industrial, and commercial licenses
(a) Medical therapy
(b) Industrial and commercial purposes
(c) Research and development activities
(1) In general
(2) Regulation
(3) Limitation on utilization facilitiesThe Commission may issue a license under this section for a utilization facility useful in the conduct of research and development activities of the types specified in section 2051 of this title if—
(A) not more than 75 percent of the annual costs to the licensee of owning and operating the facility are devoted to the sale, other than for research and development or education and training, of—
(i) nonenergy services;
(ii) energy; or
(iii) a combination of nonenergy services and energy; and
(B) not more than 50 percent of the annual costs to the licensee of owning and operating the facility are devoted to the sale of energy.
(d) Limitations
(Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 104, as added Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 1, 68 Stat. 937; amended Pub. L. 91–560, § 5, Dec. 19, 1970, 84 Stat. 1472; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2944; Pub. L. 115–439, title I, § 106(b), Jan. 14, 2019, 132 Stat. 5577; Pub. L. 118–67, div. B, title VI, § 601, July 9, 2024, 138 Stat. 1481.)
§ 2135. Antitrust provisions governing licenses
(a) Violations of antitrust laws
(b) Reports to Attorney General
(c) Transmissions to Attorney General of copies of license applications; publication of advice; factors considered; exceptions
(1) The Commission shall promptly transmit to the Attorney General a copy of any license application provided for in paragraph (2) of this subsection, and a copy of any written request provided for in paragraph (3) of this subsection; and the Attorney General shall, within a reasonable time, but in no event to exceed 180 days after receiving a copy of such application or written request, render such advice to the Commission as he determines to be appropriate in regard to the finding to be made by the Commission pursuant to paragraph (5) of this subsection. Such advice shall include an explanatory statement as to the reasons or basis therefor.
(2) Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall apply to an application for a license to construct or operate a utilization or production facility under section 2133 of this title: Provided, however, That paragraph (1) shall not apply to an application for a license to operate a utilization or production facility for which a construction permit was issued under section 2133 of this title unless the Commission determines such review is advisable on the ground that significant changes in the licensee’s activities or proposed activities have occurred subsequent to the previous review by the Attorney General and the Commission under this subsection in connection with the construction permit for the facility.
(3) With respect to any Commission permit for the construction of a utilization or production facility issued pursuant to subsection (b) of section 2134 of this title prior to December 19, 1970, any person who intervened or who sought by timely written notice to the Commission to intervene in the construction permit proceeding for the facility to obtain a determination of antitrust considerations or to advance a jurisdictional basis for such determination shall have the right, upon a written request to the Commission, to obtain an antitrust review under this section of the application for an operating license. Such written request shall be made within 25 days after the date of initial Commission publication in the Federal Register of notice of the filing of an application for an operating license for the facility or December 19, 1970, whichever is later.
(4) Upon the request of the Attorney General, the Commission shall furnish or cause to be furnished such information as the Attorney General determines to be appropriate for the advice called for in paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(5) Promptly upon receipt of the Attorney General’s advice, the Commission shall publish the advice in the Federal Register. Where the Attorney General advises that there may be adverse antitrust aspects and recommends that there be a hearing, the Attorney General or his designee may participate as a party in the proceedings thereafter held by the Commission on such licensing matter in connection with the subject matter of his advice. The Commission shall give due consideration to the advice received from the Attorney General and to such evidence as may be provided during the proceedings in connection with such subject matter, and shall make a finding as to whether the activities under the license would create or maintain a situation inconsistent with the antitrust laws as specified in subsection (a).
(6) In the event the Commission’s finding under paragraph (5) is in the affirmative, the Commission shall also consider, in determining whether the license should be issued or continued, such other factors, including the need for power in the affected area, as the Commission in its judgment deems necessary to protect the public interest. On the basis of its findings, the Commission shall have the authority to issue or continue a license as applied for, to refuse to issue a license, to rescind a license or amend it, and to issue a license with such conditions as it deems appropriate.
(7) The Commission, with the approval of the Attorney General, may except from any of the requirements of this subsection such classes or types of licenses as the Commission may determine would not significantly affect the applicant’s activities under the antitrust laws as specified in subsection (a).
(8) With respect to any application for a construction permit on file at the time of enactment into law of this subsection, which permit would be for issuance under section 2133 of this title, and with respect to any application for an operating license in connection with which a written request for an antitrust review is made as provided for in paragraph (3), the Commission, after consultation with the Attorney General, may, upon determination that such action is necessary in the public interest to avoid unnecessary delay, establish by rule or order periods for Commission notification and receipt of advice differing from those set forth above and may issue a construction permit or operating license in advance of consideration of and findings with respect to the matters covered in this subsection: Provided, That any construction permit or operating license so issued shall contain such conditions as the Commission deems appropriate to assure that any subsequent findings and orders of the Commission with respect to such matters will be given full force and effect.
(9)Applicability.—This subsection does not apply to an application for a license to construct or operate a utilization facility or production facility under section 2133 or 2134(b) of this title that is filed on or after August 8, 2005.
(Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 105, as added Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 1, 68 Stat. 938; amended Pub. L. 88–489, § 14, Aug. 26, 1964, 78 Stat. 606; Pub. L. 91–560, § 6, Dec. 19, 1970, 84 Stat. 1473; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2944; Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title IV, § 14102(c)(2)(D), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1921; Pub. L. 109–58, title VI, § 625, Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 784.)
§ 2136. Classes of facilities
The Commission may—
(a) group the facilities licensed either under section 2133 or 2134 of this title into classes which may include either production or utilization facilities or both, upon the basis of the similarity of operating and technical characteristics of the facilities;
(b) define the various activities to be carried on at each such class of facility; and
(c) designate the amounts of special nuclear material available for use by each such facility.
(Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 106, as added Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 1, 68 Stat. 938; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2944.)
§ 2137. Operators’ licenses
The Commission shall—
(a) prescribe uniform conditions for licensing individuals as operators of any of the various classes of production and utilization facilities licensed in this chapter;
(b) determine the qualifications of such individuals;
(c) issue licenses to such individuals in such form as the Commission may prescribe; and
(d) suspend such licenses for violations of any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation issued thereunder whenever the Commission deems such action desirable.
(Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 107, as added Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 1, 68 Stat. 939; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2944.)
§ 2138. Suspension of licenses during war or national emergency
Whenever the Congress declares that a state of war or national emergency exists, the Commission is authorized to suspend any licenses granted under this chapter if in its judgment such action is necessary to the common defense and security. The Commission is authorized during such period, if the Commission finds it necessary to the common defense and security, to order the recapture of any special nuclear material or to order the operation of any facility licensed under section 2133 or 2134 of this title, and is authorized to order the entry into any plant or facility in order to recapture such material, or to operate such facility. Just compensation shall be paid for any damages caused by the recapture of any special nuclear material or by the operation of any such facility.
(Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 108, as added Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 1, 68 Stat. 939; amended Pub. L. 86–373, § 2, Sept. 23, 1959, 73 Stat. 691; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2944.)
§ 2139. Component and other parts of facilities
(a) Licenses for domestic activities
(b) Export licenses
(c) Exports inimical to common defense and security of United States
(Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 109, as added Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 1, 68 Stat. 939; amended Pub. L. 87–615, § 9, Aug. 29, 1962, 76 Stat. 411; Pub. L. 89–645, § 1(b), Oct. 13, 1966, 80 Stat. 891; Pub. L. 95–242, title III, § 309(a), Mar. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 141; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2944; Pub. L. 105–277, div. G, title XII, § 1225(d)(2), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–774.)
§ 2139a. Regulations implementing requirements relating to licensing for components and other parts of facilities
(a) Omitted
(b) The Commission, not later than one hundred and twenty days after March 10, 1978, shall publish regulations to implement the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of section 2139 of this title. Among other things, these regulations shall provide for the prior consultation by the Commission with the Department of State, the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Commerce.
(c) The President, within not more than one hundred and twenty days after March 10, 1978, shall publish procedures regarding the control by the Department of Commerce over all export items, other than those licensed by the Commission, which could be, if used for purposes other than those for which the export is intended, of significance for nuclear explosive purposes. Among other things, these procedures shall provide for prior consultations by the Department of Commerce with the Department of State, the Commission, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Defense.
(Pub. L. 95–242, title III, § 309(b), (c), Mar. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 141; Pub. L. 103–236, title VII, § 714(b), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 498; Pub. L. 105–277, div. G, title XII, § 1225(e)(4), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–775.)
§ 2140. Exclusions from license requirement
Nothing in this subchapter shall be deemed—
(a) to require a license for (1) the processing, fabricating, or refining of special nuclear material, or the separation of special nuclear material, or the separation of special nuclear material from other substances, under contract with and for the account of the Commission; or (2) the construction or operation of facilities under contract with and for the account of the Commission; or
(b) to require a license for the manufacture, production, or acquisition by the Department of Defense of any utilization facility authorized pursuant to section 2121 of this title, or for the use of such facility by the Department of Defense or a contractor thereof.
(Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 110, as added Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 1, 68 Stat. 939; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2944.)
§ 2141. Licensing by Nuclear Regulatory Commission of distribution of special nuclear material, source material, and byproduct material by Department of Energy
(a) The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is authorized to license the distribution of special nuclear material, source material, and byproduct material by the Department of Energy pursuant to section 2074, 2094, and 2112 of this title, respectively, in accordance with the same procedures established by law for the export licensing of such material by any person: Provided, That nothing in this section shall require the licensing of the distribution of byproduct material by the Department of Energy under section 2112 of this title.
(b) The Department of Energy shall not distribute any special nuclear material or source material under section 2074 or 2094 of this title other than under an export license issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission until (1) the Department has obtained the concurrence of the Department of State and has consulted with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Defense under mutually agreed procedures which shall be established within not more than ninety days after March 10, 1978, and (2) the Department finds based on a reasonable judgment of the assurances provided and the information available to the United States Government, that the criteria in section 2156 of this title or their equivalent and any applicable criteria in section 2157 of this title are met, and that the proposed distribution would not be inimical to the common defense and security.
(Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 111, as added Pub. L. 95–242, title III, § 301(c), Mar. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 125; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2944; amended Pub. L. 105–277, div. G, title XII, § 1225(d)(3), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–774.)
§ 2142. Domestic medical isotope production
(a) The Commission may issue a license, or grant an amendment to an existing license, for the use in the United States of highly enriched uranium as a target for medical isotope production in a nuclear reactor, only if, in addition to any other requirement of this chapter—
(1) the Commission determines that—
(A) there is no alternative medical isotope production target that can be used in that reactor; and
(B) the proposed recipient of the medical isotope production target has provided assurances that, whenever an alternative medical isotope production target can be used in that reactor, it will use that alternative in lieu of highly enriched uranium; and
(2) the Secretary of Energy has certified that the United States Government is actively supporting the development of an alternative medical isotope production target that can be used in that reactor.
(b) As used in this section—
(1) the term “alternative medical isotope production target” means a nuclear reactor target which is enriched to less than 20 percent of the isotope U–235;
(2) a target “can be used” in a nuclear research or test reactor if—
(A) the target has been qualified by the Reduced Enrichment Research and Test Reactor Program of the Department of Energy; and
(B) use of the target will permit the large majority of ongoing and planned experiments and medical isotope production to be conducted in the reactor without a large percentage increase in the total cost of operating the reactor;
(3) the term “highly enriched uranium” means uranium enriched to 20 percent or more in the isotope U–235; and
(4) the term “medical isotope” includes molybdenum-99, iodine-131, xenon-133, and other radioactive materials used to produce a radiopharmaceutical for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures or for research and development.
(Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 112, as added Pub. L. 112–239, div. C, title XXXI, § 3176(a), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 2215; Pub. L. 113–66, div. C, title XXXI, § 3144, Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 1071.)