Atomic Energy Act of 1954

Citation
Atomic Energy Act of 1954, Pub. L. No. 83-703, codified at 42 U.S.C. §2011 et seq.

Overview
The Act gives equity to the Department of Energy over all atomic energy and nuclear information, and stipulates that this information is automatically classified in a separate system. The two classification categories &mdash; RD and FRD &mdash; were created pursuant to the Act and its implementing regulation 10 C.F.R. 1045, Nuclear Classification and Declassification.

There was recognition that it was imperative to closely safeguard and protect information on the design of nuclear weapons. There was also recognition that, while the military did not need to know how to design and build a weapon, it had the responsibility to safeguard, maintain, and plan for use of the actual weapons. Thus, the implementing regulations to this Act specify that FRD information is to be administered jointly by the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense.

Source

 * Transforming the Security Classification System, at 31 n.30.