U.S Code last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024
§ 2538c.
Long-term plan for meeting national security requirements for unencumbered uranium
(a)
In general
(b)
Plan requirements
The plan required by subsection (a) shall include the following:
(1)
An inventory of unencumbered uranium (other than depleted uranium), by program source and enrichment level, that, as of the date of the plan, is allocated to national security requirements.
(2)
An inventory of unencumbered uranium (other than depleted uranium), by program source and enrichment level, that, as of the date of the plan, is not allocated to national security requirements but could be allocated to such requirements.
(3)
An identification of national security requirements for unencumbered uranium through 2070, by program source and enrichment level.
(4)
An assessment of current and projected unencumbered uranium production by private industry in the United States that could support future defense requirements.
(5)
A description of any shortfall in obtaining unencumbered uranium to meet national security requirements and an assessment of whether that shortfall could be mitigated through the blending down of uranium that is of a higher enrichment level.
(6)
An inventory of unencumbered depleted uranium, an assessment of the portion of that uranium that could be allocated to national security requirements through re-enrichment, and an estimate of the costs of re-enriching that uranium.
(7)
A description of the swap and barter agreements involving unencumbered uranium needed to meet national security requirements that are in effect on the date of the plan.
(8)
An assessment of—
(A)
when additional enrichment of uranium will be required to meet national security requirements; and
(B)
the options the Secretary is considering to meet such requirements, including an estimated cost and timeline for each option and a description of any changes to policy or law that the Secretary determines would be required for each option.
(9)
An assessment of how options to provide additional enriched uranium to meet national security requirements could, as an additional benefit, contribute to the establishment of a sustained domestic enrichment capacity and allow the commercial sector of the United States to reduce reliance on importing uranium from adversary countries.
(c)
Form of plan
(d)
Comptroller General briefing
(e)
Definitions
In this section:
(1)
The term “depleted”, with respect to uranium, means that the uranium is depleted in uranium-235 compared with natural uranium.
(2)
The term “unencumbered”, with respect to uranium, means that the United States has no obligation to foreign governments to use the uranium for only peaceful purposes.
(Pub. L. 107–314, div. D, title XLII, § 4221, as added Pub. L. 114–92, div. C, title XXXI, § 3131(a), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 1201; amended Pub. L. 115–91, div. C, title XXXI, § 3133(e), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1897; Pub. L. 117–263, div. C, title XXXI, § 3112, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3051.)
cite as: 50 USC 2538c