Title 48 — Territories and Insular PossessionsRelease 119-73

§1491 License, permit, etc., for transportation for storage or storage of spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste; prerequisites; applicability; “territory or possession” defined

Title 48 › Chapter CHAPTER 10— - TERRITORIAL PROVISIONS OF A GENERAL NATURE › § 1491

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Any plan to move or store spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste in a U.S. territory or possession requires the Secretary of the Interior to send Congress a detailed report first. No permit, transport, or storage can happen unless Congress passes a law approving that plan; this does not apply to cleanup of Bikini and Enewetak Atolls. "Territory or possession" includes the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and other U.S.-claimed areas.

Full Legal Text

Title 48, §1491

Territories and Insular Possessions — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Prior to the granting of any license, permit, or other authorization or permission by any agency or instrumentality of the United States to any person for the transportation of spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste for interim, long-term, or permanent storage to or for the storage of such fuel or waste on any territory or possession of the United States, the Secretary of the Interior is directed to transmit to the Congress a detailed report on the proposed transportation or storage plan, and no such license, permit, or other authorization or permission may be granted nor may any such transportation or storage occur unless the proposed transportation or storage plan has been specifically authorized by Act of Congress: Provided, That the provisions of this section shall not apply to the cleanup and rehabilitation of Bikini and Enewetak Atolls.

(b)For the purpose of this section the words “territory or possession” include the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and any area not within the boundaries of the several States over which the United States claims or exercises sovereignty.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Executive Documents

Termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note set out preceding section 1681 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

48 U.S.C. § 1491

Title 48 — Territories and Insular Possessions

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73