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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 9701. Congressional findings and declaration of policy
(a) The Congress finds that -
(1) nuclear energy is one of the two major energy sources
available for electric energy production in the United States
during the balance of the twentieth century;
(2) continued development of nuclear power is dependent upon
maintaining an extremely high level of safety in the operation of
nuclear plants, and on public recognition that these facilities
do not constitute a significant threat to human health or safety;
(3) it is the responsibility of utilities, as owners and
operators of nuclear powerplants, to assure that such plants are
designed and operated safely and reliably; and
(4) a proper role of the Federal Government in assuring nuclear
powerplant safety, in addition to its regulatory function, is the
conduct of a research, development, and demonstration program to
provide important scientific and technical information which can
contribute to sound design and safe operation of these plants.
(b) It is declared to be the policy of the United States and the
purpose of this chapter to establish a research, development, and
demonstration program for developing practical improvements in the
generic safety of nuclear powerplants during the next five years,
beginning in the fiscal year 1981. The objectives of such program
shall be -
(1) to reduce the likelihood and severity of potentially
serious nuclear powerplant accidents; and
(2) to reduce the likelihood of disrupting the population in
the vicinity of nuclear powerplants as the result of nuclear
powerplant accidents.
Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as preventing the
Secretary from undertaking projects or activities, in addition to
those specified in this chapter, which appropriately further the
purpose and objectives set forth in this subsection. Nothing in
this chapter shall authorize the Secretary to assume responsibility
for the management, cleanup or repair of any commercial nuclear
powerplant. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting
the authority of the Secretary under any other law.
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