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Title 10 — Armed ForcesRelease 119-83

§6201 Safety Measures for Waste Tanks at Hanford Nuclear Reservation

Title 10 › Subtitle 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 Apr 18, 2026|Official source

Summary

By February 3, 1991, the Secretary of Energy must identify which single- or double-shelled high-level waste tanks at Hanford in Richland, Washington could release waste because of uncontrolled temperature or pressure rises. For each tank found, the Secretary must check if continuous monitoring is in place and install safe monitoring as soon as possible if it is missing. By March 5, 1991, the Secretary must have plans to respond to high temperature, pressure, or a release. Starting March 5, 1991, no more high-level waste may be put into those tanks (except tiny test samples) unless there is no safer option or the tank is not at serious risk.

Full Legal Text

Title 10, §6201

Armed Forces — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)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)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)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

Apr 18, 2026

Release point: 119-83