Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-102

§10142 Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel

Title 42 › CHAPTER 108 — NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY › SUBCHAPTER I — DISPOSAL AND STORAGE OF HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE, SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL, AND LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE › Part A — Repositories for Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste and Spent Nuclear Fuel › § 10142

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Any repository built on an approved site must be designed so spent nuclear fuel can be taken out during an appropriate operating period. Fuel may be removed for public health or environmental reasons, or to recover valuable material. The Secretary must set the retrievability period during design, and the Commission will approve or reject that plan as part of the construction review.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §10142

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, any repository constructed on a site approved under this part shall be designed and constructed to permit the retrieval of any spent nuclear fuel placed in such repository, during an appropriate period of operation of the facility, for any reason pertaining to the public health and safety, or the environment, or for the purpose of permitting the recovery of the economically valuable contents of such spent fuel. The Secretary shall specify the appropriate period of retrievability with respect to any repository at the time of design of such repository, and such aspect of such repository shall be subject to approval or disapproval by the Commission as part of the construction authorization process under subsections (b) through (d) of section 10134 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 10142

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102