---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 2053"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "2053"
heading: "Research for others; charges"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/2053"
units:
  - "Chapter 23 — Development and Control of Atomic Energy"
  - "Division A — Atomic Energy"
  - "Subchapter III — Research"
---

# §2053. Research for others; charges


In this section, with respect to international research [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), the term “private facilities or laboratories” means facilities or laboratories located in the [United States](/usc/42/2014.md?p=bb). Where the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) finds private facilities or laboratories are inadequate for the purpose, it is authorized to conduct for other [persons](/usc/42/2014.md?p=s), through its own facilities, such of those activities and studies of the types specified in [section 2051 of this title](/usc/42/2051.md) as it deems appropriate to the development of energy. To the extent the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) determines that private facilities or laboratories are inadequate for the purpose, and that the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f)’s facilities, or scientific or technical resources have the potential of lending significant assistance to other [persons](/usc/42/2014.md?p=s) in the fields of protection of public health and safety, the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) may also assist other [persons](/usc/42/2014.md?p=s) in these fields by conducting for such [persons](/usc/42/2014.md?p=s), through the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f)’s own facilities, [research and development](/usc/42/2014.md?p=x) or training activities and studies. The [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) is authorized to determine and make such charges as in its discretion may be desirable for the conduct of the activities and studies referred to in this section.


## Source credit

(Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 33, as added Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 1, 68 Stat. 928; amended Pub. L. 90–190, § 7, Dec. 14, 1967, 81 Stat. 577; Pub. L. 92–84, title II, § 201(b), Aug. 11, 1971, 85 Stat. 307; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2944; Pub. L. 115–246, title III, § 307(g), formerly § 307(f), Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3149, renumbered § 307(g), Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title II, § 2008(a)(1), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2474.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018—Pub. L. 115–246 inserted “In this section, with respect to international research projects, the term ‘private facilities or laboratories’ means facilities or laboratories located in the United States.” before “Where the Commission”.

1971—Pub. L. 92–84 substituted provisions authorizing the Commission to conduct research for other persons for the development of energy, for provisions authorizing the Commission to conduct research for other persons for the development of atomic energy.

1967—Pub. L. 90–190 inserted provision which authorized the Commission, to the extent the Commission made certain determinations, to assist other persons on the fields of protection of public health and safety by conducting for such persons, through the facilities of the Commission, research and development or training activities and studies, and substituted “the activities and studies referred to in this section” for “such activities and studies”.