An Act to amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and for other purposes
PL 91-161 (S.3169), enacted 12/24/1969

444 
PUBLIC LAW 91-161-DEC. 24, 1969 
[83 STAT. 
Assistance 
by other 
Government 
agencies. 
income, estate, and gift taxes, any gift, devise, or bequest accepted by 
the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Commerce under authority 
of this Act shall be deemed to be a gift, devise, or bequest to or for 
the use of the United States. 
SEC. 4. The head of any department, agency, or establishment of the 
United States is authorized on request, to assist with or without reim-
bursement the Department of State and the Department of Com-
merce in carrying out the functions herein authorized, including the 
furnishing of personnel and facilities. 
Approved December 24, 1969. 
Public Law 91-161 
December 24, 1969 
A N 
A C T 
[s.3169] 
To amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, and for other purposes. 
Atomic Energy 
Act of 1954, 
amendment. 
78 Stat. 376. 
42 u s e 2183. 
68 Stat. 958. 
42 u s e 2272. 
Restricted 
data. 
42 u s e 2274-
2276. 
Enforcement. 
70 Stat. 1070. 
42 u s e 2271-
2281. 
68 
Stat. 930. 
42 
use 2073, 
2077, 
2092, 
2093, 
2111, 
2112, 2131, 
2133, 2134, 
2137, 2139. 
42 
use 2236. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ 
SECTION 1. Subsection 153h. of the Atomic Energy xVct of 1954, 
as amended, is amended to read as follows: 
"h. The provisions of this section shall apply to any patent the 
application for which shall have been filed before September 1, 1974." 
SEC. 2. Section 222 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, 
is amended by striking out "imprisonment for not more than five 
years" and inserting in lieu thereof "imprisonment for not more than 
ten years". 
SEC. 3. (a) Section 222 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as 
amended, is amended by striking out "death or imprisonment for life 
(but the penalty of death or imprisonment for life may be imposed 
only upon recommendation of the jury), or by a fine of not more than 
$20,000 or by imprisonment for not more than twenty years, or both" 
and inserting in lieu thereof "imprisonment for life, or by imprison-
ment for any term of years or a fine of not more than $20,000 or both". 
(b) Sections 224, 225, and 226 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, 
as amended, are each amended by striking out "death or imprisonment 
for life (but the penalty of death or imprisonment for life may be 
imposed only upon recommendation of the jury), or by a fine of not 
more than $20,000 or imprisonment for not more than twenty years, 
or both" and inserting in lieu thereof "imprisonment for life, or by 
imprisonment for any term of years or a fine of not more than $20,000 
or both". 
SEC. 4. Chapter 18 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, 
is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new section: 
"SEC. 234. CIVIL MONETARY PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS or LICENSING 
REQUIREMENTS.— 
"a. Any person who (1) violates any licensing provision of section 
53, 57, 62, 63, 81, 82, 101, 103, 104, 107, or 109 or any rule, regulation, 
or order issued thereunder, or any term, condition, or limitation of 
any license issued thereunder, or (2) commits any violation for which 
a license may be revoked under section 186, shall be subject to a civil 
penalty, to be imposed by the Commission, of not to exceed $5,000 
for each such violation: Provided^ That in no event shall the total 
penalty payable by any person exceed $25,000 for all violations by 
such person occurring within any period of thirty consecutive days. 
If any violation is a continuing one, each day of such violation shall 
constitute a separate violation for the purpose of computing the appli-
cable civil penalty. The Commission shall have the power to compro-
mise, mitigate, or remit such penalties. 
civil action. 
42 u s e 2271. 
83 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 9 1 - 1 6 2 - D E C . 24, 1969 
445 
"b. Whenever the Commission has reason to believe that a person 
written 
lias become subject to the imposition of a civil penalty under the provi- """fication. 
sions of this section, it shall notify such person in writing (1) setting 
forth the date, facts, and nature of each act or omission with which the 
person is charged, (2) specifically identifying the particular provision 
or provisions of the section, rule, regulation, order, or license involved 
in the violation, and (3) advising of each penalty which the Commis-
sion proposes to impose and its amount. Such written notice shall be 
sent by registered or certified mail by the Commission to the last known 
address of such person. The person so notified shall be granted an 
opportunity to show in writing, within such reasonable period as the 
Commission shall by regulation prescribe, why such penalty should 
not be imposed. The notice shall also advise such person that upon 
failure to pay the civil penalty subsequently determined by the Com-
mission, if any, the penalty may be collected by civil action. 
"c. On the request of the Commission, the Attorney General is 
authorized to institute a civil action to collect a penalty imposed pur-
suant to this section. The Attorney General shall have the exclusive 
power to compromise, mitigate, or remit such civil penalties as are 
referred to him for collection." 
SEC. 5. Subsection 221 c. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as 
amended, is amended to read as follows: 
^^ stat. 958. 
"c. No action shall be brought against any individual or person for 
any violation under this Act unless and until the Attorney General 
of the LTnited States has advised the Commission with respect to such 
action and no such action shall be commenced except by the Attorney 
General of the United States: Provided, however^ That no action shall 
be brought under section 222, 223, 224, 225, or 2i»6 except by th^ 
,,1,2^^^2272-
express direction of the Attorney General: And promded further^ That 
nothing in this subsection shall be construed as applying to administra-
tive action taken by the Commission." 
SEC. 6. Section 223 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, 
is amended by adding the word "criminal" before the word "penalty". 
SEC. 7. The amendments contained in sections 2 and 3 of this Act 
shall apply only to offenses under sections 222, 224, 225, and 226 which 
are committed on or after the date of enactment of this Act. Nothing in 
section 2 or 3 of this Act shall affect penalties authorized under existing 
law for offenses under section 222,224,225, or 226 of the Atomic Energy 
Act of 1954, as amended, committed prior to the date of enactment 
of this Act. 
Approved December 24, 1969. 
Public Law 91-162 
A N A C T 
December 24,1969 
To waive the acreage limitations of section 1(b) of the Act of June 14, 1926, as 
^^- ^^o^l 
amended, with respect to conveyance of lands to the State of Nevada for 
inclusion in the Valley of Fire State Park. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That the acreage 
vaiiey o
f Fire 
limitations on conveyances in any one calendar year set forth in section ^ev^ ^^^^' 
1 (b) of the Act of June 14,1926, as amended (43 U.S.C. 869 (b)) shall 
73' stat. 571. 
not apply to or be affected by any conveyances of lands for inclusion 
in the Valley of Fire State Park made under that Act to the State 
of Nevada. 
Approved December 24, 1969. 
2276.