Is it illegal to buy uranium online?
Generally legal if the material is low-activity 'exempt quantity' uranium ore.
It is legal for private citizens to buy and possess small, unrefined quantities of uranium ore or certain NRC-exempt products like uranium glass. These materials are classified as 'exempt quantities' because their radioactive emission levels are low enough to present minimal risk to public health or safety. However, purchasing enriched uranium or large quantities of industrial-grade source material is strictly prohibited and subject to heavy federal oversight. As long as the material is sold by reputable science suppliers for educational or hobbyist use, no special license is required.
RELEVANT LAWS
- 10 C.F.R. § 40.13Unimportant quantities of source material
- 49 C.F.R. § 173.421Excepted packages for limited quantities of radioactive materials
- Atomic Energy Act of 1954Federal regulation of nuclear byproduct materials
POTENTIAL PENALTIES
- Civil penalties for improper shipping or labeling under DOT regulations
- Confiscation of material if it exceeds safety thresholds without a license
- Federal felony charges for attempting to acquire enriched fissile material
JURISDICTION
While federal NRC regulations dominate, some states like California have stricter reporting requirements for any radioactive materials.
You can legally buy uranium ore on Amazon, and it is often sold in small lead-lined cans primarily for testing Geiger counters.
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FOR EDUCATIONAL & ENTERTAINMENT USE ONLY · NOT LEGAL ADVICE