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About Us
- After the development and use of the atomic bomb in 1945, the
U.S. Government created the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in 1947
as the agency for controlling nuclear materials and developing
nuclear weapons.
- The AEC created the Nevada Operations Office on March 6, 1962.
- The AEC was abolished on January 19, 1975, and replaced with two
agencies: the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA)
and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). ERDA was given the
mission of administering the nuclear weapons program and carrying
out energy research and development programs including operation of
the Nevada Test Site. The NRC mission was, and still is, to regulate
use of civilian nuclear materials and license nuclear power plants.
- In October, 1977, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) was
created to take over ERDA’s functions plus energy functions from
other federal agencies. Stronger emphasis was placed on energy
conservation and alternative energy sources, such as solar,
geothermal, and wind power.
- In 2000, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) was
created by Congress as a semi-autonomous agency within the U.S.
Department of Energy responsible for enhancing national security
through the military application of nuclear energy. The Nevada
Operations Office was renamed the NNSA Nevada Site Office as part of
this change.
- NNSA maintains and enhances the safety, security, reliability
and performance of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without
nuclear testing; works to reduce global danger from weapons of mass
destruction; provides the U.S. Navy with safe and effective nuclear
propulsion; and responds to nuclear and radiological emergencies in
the U.S. and abroad.
For more information, refer to the current
Strategic Plan.
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