---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 2296b–6"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "2296b–6"
heading: "Regulatory treatment of uranium purchases"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/2296b-6"
units:
  - "Chapter 23 — Development and Control of Atomic Energy"
  - "Division A — Atomic Energy"
  - "Subchapter XIX — Remedial Action and Uranium Revitalization"
  - "Part B — Uranium Revitalization"
---

# §2296b–6. Regulatory treatment of uranium purchases

- (a) **Encouragement—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall encourage [States](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) and [utility regulatory authorities](/usc/42/2296b–7.md?p=7) to take into consideration the achievement of the objectives and purposes of this part, including the national need to avoid dependence on imports, when considering whether to allow the [owner](/usc/42/13641.md?p=4) or [operator](/usc/42/2014.md?p=r) of any electric power plant to recover in its rates and charges to [customers](/usc/42/7275.md?p=5) any cost of purchase of domestic uranium, enriched uranium, or enrichment services from a [non-affiliated](/usc/42/2296b–7.md?p=5) seller greater than the cost of non-domestic uranium, enriched uranium or enrichment services.
- (b) **Report—** Within 1 year after October 24, 1992, and annually thereafter, the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall report to the Congress on the progress of the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) in encouraging actions by [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) regulatory authorities pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a). Such report shall include detailed information on programs initiated by the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) to encourage appropriate [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) regulatory action and recommendations, if any, on further action that could be taken by the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2), other [Federal agencies](/usc/42/2296b–7.md?p=7), or the Congress in order to further the purposes of this part.
- (c) **Savings provision—** This section may not be construed to authorize the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) to take any action in [violation](/usc/42/2000e–16a.md?p=c) of the multilateral trade agreements (as defined in [section 3501(4) of title 19](/usc/19/3501.md?p=4)) or the USMCA (as defined in [section 4502 of title 19](/usc/19/4502.md)).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 102–486, title X, § 1017, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2950; Pub. L. 106–36, title I, § 1002(g)(2), June 25, 1999, 113 Stat. 133; Pub. L. 116–113, title V, § 507(a), Jan. 29, 2020, 134 Stat. 78.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, and not as part of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 which comprises this chapter.

### Amendments

2020—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–113 substituted “USMCA (as defined in section 4502 of title 19)” for “North American Free Trade Agreement”.

1999—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106–36 substituted “multilateral trade agreements (as defined in section 3501(4) of title 19) or the North American Free Trade Agreement” for “General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade or the United States-Canada Free Trade Agreement”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2020 Amendment

Pub. L. 116–113, title V, § 507(b), Jan. 29, 2020, 134 Stat. 78, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on the date on which the USMCA enters into force [July 1, 2020].”