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Important Dates

Atomic Energy Act

  • August 1, 1946
  • The Act was signed by President Truman
  • January 1, 1947
  • The Act went into effect
  • August 30, 1956
  • A major amendment to the Act was signed by President Eisenhower
  • This allowed for a greater sharing of nuclear research
  • It became effective immediately

President Truman

President Eisenhower

Works Cited

Origin

  • "Governing Legislation." NRC:. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. <http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/governing-laws.html#aea-1954>.
  • "EPA." Summary of the Atomic Energy Act. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. <http://www2.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-atomic-energy-act>.
  • "Nuclear Files: Library: Treaties: Atomic Energy Act, August 1, 1946." Nuclear Files: Library: Treaties: Atomic Energy Act, August 1, 1946. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013. <http://www.nuclearfiles.org/menu/library/treaties/atomic-energy-act/trty_atomic-energy-act_1945-12-20.htm>.
  • Marks, Herbert. "The Atomic Energy Act: Public Administration without Public Debate." JSTOR. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
  • The Act was passed after the success of the Manhattan Project and subsequent bombings of Japan
  • These events helped U.S. lawmakers to realize the need for the regulation of nuclear materials
  • The 1954 amendment made nuclear resources more open to the public
  • This was part of Eisenhower's "Atoms For Peace" program

Impact/Controversy

Premise

The Atomic Energy Act regulates the civilian and military uses of nuclear materials

  • Some criticize the act for being too secretive
  • They argue that the public has a right to know what exactly is being done under the authority of the Act
  • The original act limit the sharing of atomic energy information
  • This strained relations with Britain
  • They assumed that an executive agreement made under Roosevelt would entitle them U.S. research
  • No one has ever been prosecuted under the Act

Military Use

Civilian Use

  • The Military is not accountable to the NRC
  • It still must follow the more general regulations outlined in the Act
  • An example of this is 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."
  • 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"
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