42 USC § 13491 - Purposes and definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s13491"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 13491 - Purposes and definitions"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "13491"
section_name: "Purposes and definitions"
chapter_number: 134
chapter_name: "ENERGY POLICY"
subchapter_number: "IX"
subchapter_name: "ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT"
part_number: "C"
part_name: "Advanced Nuclear Reactors"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 102–486, title XXI, § 2121, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3081.)"
---


# § 13491. Purposes and definitions

**(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.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 102–486, title XXI, § 2121, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3081.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This part, referred to in text, was in the original “this subtitle” meaning subtitle C of title XXI of , , , which enacted this part and amended sections 12003 and 12004 of this title.