Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73not60

§10194 Siting Research and Related Activities

Title 42 › Chapter 108— NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY › Subchapter II— RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRATION REGARDING DISPOSAL OF HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE AND SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL › § 10194

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must evaluate 3 candidate sites within 30 months after finishing the site identification and pick one for expanded research and related activities. The Secretary may do preconstruction work at the chosen site. Other sites for a test and evaluation facility can be evaluated later using the same process. Within 6 months after finishing the site identification, and before starting site research, the Secretary must hold at least one public meeting near each site to explain the planned work and hear local views. For siting research (unless different rules apply to a test facility), the Secretary must use the smallest amount of high-level radioactive waste or other radioactive material needed, make any material fully retrievable, and remove all radioactive material promptly when work ends. The Secretary may take title to waste placed in a test facility and, if so, must make the required financial arrangements for its disposal.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §10194

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

(a)Not later than 30 months after the date on which the Secretary completes the identification of sites under section 10193 of this title, the Secretary is authorized to complete sufficient evaluation of 3 sites to select a site for expanded siting research activities and for other activities under section 10198 of this title. The Secretary is authorized to conduct such preconstruction activities relative to such site selection for the test and evaluation facility as he deems appropriate. Additional sites for the location of the test and evaluation facility authorized in section 10222(d) of this title may be evaluated after such 30-month period, following the same procedures as if such sites were to be evaluated within such period.

(b)Not later than 6 months after the date on which the Secretary completes the identification of sites under section 10193 of this title, and before beginning siting research activities, the Secretary shall hold at least 1 public meeting in the vicinity of each site to inform the residents of the area of the activities to be conducted at such site and to receive their views.

(c)Except as provided in section 10198 of this title with respect to a test and evaluation facility, in conducting siting research activities pursuant to subsection (a)—

(1)the Secretary shall use the minimum quantity of high-level radioactive waste or other radioactive materials, if any, necessary to achieve the test or research objectives;

(2)the Secretary shall ensure that any radioactive material used or placed on a site shall be fully retrievable; and

(3)upon termination of siting research activities at a site for any reason, the Secretary shall remove any radioactive material at or in the site as promptly as practicable.

(d)The Secretary may take title, in the name of the Federal Government, to the high-level radioactive waste, spent nuclear fuel, or other radioactive material emplaced in a test and evaluation facility. If the Secretary takes title to any such material, the Secretary shall enter into the appropriate financial arrangements described in subsection (a) or (b) of section 10222 of this title for the disposal of such material.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 10194

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60