Atomic Fission: The Breakup of the Atomic Energy Commission and the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974

This report examines the dissolution of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and the legislative process leading to the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (ERA). Signed by President Gerald Ford on October 11, 1974, the ERA divided the AEC into two new agencies: the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for safety oversight and the Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA) for energy research. ERDA later merged into the Department of Energy in 1977. The report explores political and structural conflicts within the AEC, focusing on its dual mandate to promote and regulate nuclear energy, as well as growing concerns over reactor safety, environmental impact, and nuclear waste. It details congressional debates, executive actions, industry influence, and activist opposition that shaped U.S. energy policy. The ERA aimed to restore regulatory credibility while maintaining federal support for energy research​.