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Title 10, Armed ForcesRelease 119-102

§6204 Notification Regarding Air Release of Radioactive or Hazardous Material

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 › § 6204

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

When the Secretary of Energy or the person they pick is told that waste from atomic energy defense work at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Richland, Washington was released into the air above legal limits and is radioactive or hazardous, they must act. Within two business days they must tell the congressional defense committees. Within seven business days they must give those committees a briefing on the release’s status, the cause if known, and early plans to fix and clean it up, including 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

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102