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Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-73

§6204 Notification regarding air release of radioactive or hazardous material

Title 10 › Subtitle Subtitle A— - General Military Law › Part PART VI— - ELEMENTS OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND OTHER MATTERS › Subpart Subpart B— - Atomic Energy Defense › Chapter CHAPTER 604— - DEFENSE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP MATTERS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - HANFORD RESERVATION, WASHINGTON › § 6204

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

If the Secretary of Energy or their designee is told that radioactive or hazardous material from atomic energy defense waste at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Richland, Washington was released into the air above legal limits, they must notify the congressional defense committees within two business days. Within seven business days of that notice, the Secretary must give those committees a briefing on the release’s status. The briefing must say the cause of the release if it is known and include early plans to deal with and clean it up, with estimated costs and timelines.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §6204

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

If the Secretary of Energy (or a designee of the Secretary) is notified of an improper release into the air of radioactive or hazardous material above applicable statutory or regulatory limits that resulted from waste generated by atomic energy defense activities at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, Richland, Washington, the Secretary (or designee of the Secretary) shall—
(1)not later than two business days after being notified of the release, notify the congressional defense committees of the release; and
(2)not later than seven business days after being notified of the release, provide the congressional defense committees a briefing on the status of the release, including—
(A)the cause of the release, if known; and
(B)preliminary plans to address and remediate the release, including associated costs and timelines.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 2627 of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(b)(1).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

10 U.S.C. § 6204

Title 10 — Armed Forces

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73