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Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-110

§6201 Safety Measures for Waste Tanks at Hanford Nuclear Reservation

Title 10 › Subtitle A — General Military Law › PART VI — ELEMENTS OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND OTHER MATTERS › Subpart B — Atomic Energy Defense › CHAPTER 604 — DEFENSE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP MATTERS › SUBCHAPTER III — HANFORD RESERVATION, WASHINGTON › § 6201

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Energy must, by February 3, 1991, find which single- or double-shelled high-level waste tanks at Hanford could seriously release waste because of too much heat or pressure. For each tank found, the Secretary must check if continuous monitoring is in place to spot a release or unsafe temperature or pressure. If not, the Secretary must install monitoring as soon as possible, but only if the monitoring itself will not raise the risk of a release. By March 5, 1991, the Secretary must make plans to respond if any of those tanks get too hot, too pressurized, or start to leak. Starting March 5, 1991, no more high-level waste can be added to a tank identified as risky, except tiny amounts taken out and returned for testing, unless the Secretary decides there is no safer option or the tank is not a serious risk.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §6201

Armed Forces, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Identification and Monitoring of Tanks.—
Not later than February 3, 1991, the Secretary of Energy shall identify which single-shelled or double-shelled high-level nuclear waste tanks at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, Richland, Washington, may have a serious potential for release of high-level waste due to uncontrolled increases in temperature or pressure. After completing such identification, the Secretary shall determine whether continuous monitoring is being carried out to detect a release or excessive temperature or pressure at each tank so identified. If such monitoring is not being carried out, as soon as practicable the Secretary shall install such monitoring, but only if a type of monitoring that does not itself increase the danger of a release can be installed.
(b)Action Plans.—
Not later than March 5, 1991, the Secretary of Energy shall develop action plans to respond to excessive temperature or pressure or a release from any tank identified under subsection (a).
(c)Prohibition.—
Beginning March 5, 1991, no additional high-level nuclear waste (except for small amounts removed and returned to a tank for analysis) may be added to a tank identified under subsection (a) unless the Secretary determines that no safer alternative than adding such waste to the tank currently exists or that the tank does not pose a serious potential for release of high-level nuclear waste.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 6201 was renumbered section 8281 of this title. Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 2621 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. § 6201

Title 10, Armed Forces

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110