---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 13491"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "13491"
heading: "Purposes and definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/13491"
units:
  - "Chapter 134 — Energy Policy"
  - "Subchapter IX — Energy and Environment"
  - "Part C — Advanced Nuclear Reactors"
---

# §13491. Purposes and definitions

- (a) **Purposes—** The purposes of this part are—
  - (1) to require the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) to carry out civilian nuclear programs in a way that will lead toward the commercial availability of [advanced nuclear reactor technologies](#b-1); and
  - (2) to authorize such activities to further the timely availability of [advanced nuclear reactor technologies](#b-1), including technologies that utilize [standardized designs](#b-3) 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](#b-1) 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](#b-2) of a [standardized design](#b-3).

## Source credit

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

## Notes

### 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 sections 12003 and 12004 of this title.