42 U.S.C. § 13491: Purposes and definitions

Summary

Requires the Secretary to run civilian nuclear programs so advanced nuclear reactors move toward being sold and used commercially. It also lets the Secretary support work to make those reactors available sooner, including ones with standardized designs or passive safety features. Key words: "advanced nuclear reactor technologies" includes near‑term advanced light water reactors (for example mid‑sized units with passive safety) and other types that may need prototype tests before mid‑ or long‑term commercial use (for example high‑temperature gas‑cooled and liquid‑metal reactors); "Commission" means the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; "standardized design" is a design used at multiple units or sites; "certification" means the Commission’s approval of a standardized design.

Title 42, §13491

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Purposes

The purposes of this part are—

(1)to require the Secretary to carry out civilian nuclear programs in a way that will lead toward the commercial availability of advanced nuclear reactor technologies; and

(2)to authorize such activities to further the timely availability of advanced nuclear reactor technologies, including technologies that utilize standardized designs or exhibit passive safety features.

(b)Definitions

For purposes of this part—

(1)the term “advanced nuclear reactor technologies” means—

(A)advanced light water reactors that may be commercially available in the near-term, including but not limited to mid-sized reactors with passive safety features for the generation of commercial electric power from nuclear fission; and

(B)other advanced nuclear reactor technologies that may require prototype demonstration prior to commercial availability in the mid- or long-term, including but not limited to high-temperature, gas-cooled reactors and liquid metal reactors, for the generation of commercial electric power from nuclear fission;

(2)the term “Commission” means the Nuclear Regulatory Commission;

(3)the term “standardized design” means a design for a nuclear power plant that may be utilized for a multiple number of units or a multiple number of sites; and

(4)the term “certification” means approval by the Commission of a standardized design.

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This part, referred to in text, was in the original “this subtitle” meaning subtitle C of title XXI of Pub. L. 102–486, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3081, which enacted this part and amended section 12003 and 12004 of this title.

§13491 Purposes and Definitions

Summary

Title 42, §13491

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Citations & Metadata