§10193 Identification of sites

Summary

The Secretary must write general guidelines within 6 months after January 7, 1983, even if other agencies do not make rules. The guidelines must be made with advice from several federal agencies. They must list what makes a place good or bad for a test and evaluation facility. The rules must cover things like nearby natural resources, underground water and rock types, earthquakes, defense-related nuclear activities, closeness to water supplies and people, effects on water users, and closeness to parks, wildlife refuges, wild rivers, wilderness areas, and national forests. The Secretary must think about different kinds of rock and soil and, when possible, pick sites in different geologic media. Within 1 year after January 7, 1983, and after the guidelines are issued, the Secretary may pick three or more candidate sites. At least two must be in different geologic media in the continental United States, and at least one must be in a medium other than salt. The Secretary should prefer media that slow the movement of radioactive materials in water. Except for areas already being reviewed on January 7, 1983, or sites that already hold high-level radioactive waste, each chosen site must be more than 15 statute miles from towns with more than 1,000 people. Each choice must have an environmental assessment that shows suitability under the guidelines, health and environmental effects, a comparison with other sites, how the decision was made, and local and regional impacts. The Secretary must tell the State Governor or the governing body of an affected Indian tribe as soon as possible. More sites can be added later using the same steps.