Since the 1 9501s, the Department of Energy and its predecessor agencies have provided
nuclear materials, including various forms of uranium and plutonium, to academic
institutions, conlmercial facilities and other government agencies. The Atomic Energy
Act of 1954 provided authority for these materials to be loaned or leased for research,
educational or medical purposes, or for other projects consistent with the Department's
mission. As of the end of September 2007, 101 domestic facilities had Departmentowned
nuclear materials in their possession.
