Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73not60
§2113 Ownership and Custody of Certain Byproduct Material and Disposal Sites
Title 42 › Chapter 23— DEVELOPMENT AND CONTROL OF ATOMIC ENERGY › Subchapter VII— BYPRODUCT MATERIALS › § 2113
Summary
Licenses for activities that make byproduct material must include rules to make sure the site is cleaned up and any leftover radioactive material is turned over before the license ends. Byproduct material — leftover radioactive material from processing ores (as defined elsewhere). The license must require the owner to meet the cleanup and reclamation standards the Commission sets for processing sites and disposal sites. The owner must transfer ownership of the byproduct material either to the United States or to the State where the activity happened if that State chooses to take the land. The Commission must require that land used for disposal (unless already owned by the U.S. or a State) be transferred to the United States or to the State that chooses it. If the U.S. takes the land, the Secretary of Energy or a federal agency the President names will take ownership and care for it after the Commission says the cleanup rules were met. If a State takes it, the State will take ownership and care after the Commission’s review. The government or State must keep the land and material safe for public health and the environment. Transfers are made at no cost except for administrative or legal fees. The original owner still can be held responsible for any fraud or negligence done before the transfer. Tribal trust lands or restricted Indian lands are handled differently; the owner must make plans with the Commission to assure long-term care. The Commission must check at license end whether the owner met all requirements. The Secretary may do monitoring, maintenance, and emergency work but may not take other actions unless Congress allowed them after November 8, 1978.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §2113
The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Any license issued or renewed after the effective date of this section under section 2092 or section 2111 of this title for any activity which results in the production of any byproduct material, as defined in section 2014(e)(2) of this title, shall contain such terms and conditions as the Commission determines to be necessary to assure that, prior to termination of such license—
(1)the licensee will comply with decontamination, decommissioning, and reclamation standards prescribed by the Commission for sites (A) at which ores were processed primarily for their source material content and (B) at which such byproduct material is deposited, and
(2)ownership of any byproduct material, as defined in section 2014(e)(2) of this title, which resulted from such licensed activity shall be transferred to (A) the United States or (B) in the State in which such activity occurred if such State exercises the option under subsection (b)(1) to acquire land used for the disposal of byproduct material.
(b)(1)(A)The Commission shall require by rule, regulation, or order that prior to the termination of any license which is issued after the effective date of this section, title to the land, including any interests therein (other than land owned by the United States or by a State) which is used for the disposal of any byproduct material, as defined by section 2014(e)(2) of this title, pursuant to such license shall be transferred to—
(i)the United States, or
(ii)the State in which such land is located, at the option of such State,
(B)If the Commission determines by order that use of the surface or subsurface estates, or both, of the land transferred to the United States or to a State under subparagraph (A) would not endanger the public health, safety, welfare, or environment, the Commission, pursuant to such regulations as it may prescribe, shall permit the use of the surface or subsurface estates, or both, of such land in a manner consistent with the provisions of this section. If the Commission permits such use of such land, it shall provide the person who transferred such land with the right of first refusal with respect to such use of such land.
(2)If transfer to the United States of title to such byproduct material and such land is required under this section, the Secretary of Energy or any Federal agency designated by the President shall, following the Commission’s determination of compliance under subsection (c), assume title and custody of such byproduct material and land transferred as provided in this subsection. Such Secretary or Federal agency shall maintain such material and land in such manner as will protect the public health and safety and the environment. Such custody may be transferred to another officer or instrumentality of the United States only upon approval of the President.
(3)If transfer to a State of title to such byproduct material is required in accordance with this subsection, such State shall, following the Commission’s determination of compliance under subsection (d), assume title and custody of such byproduct material and land transferred as provided in this subsection. Such State shall maintain such material and land in such manner as will protect the public health, safety, and the environment.
(4)In the case of any such license under section 2092 of this title, which was in effect on the effective date of this section, the Commission may require, before the termination of such license, such transfer of land and interests therein (as described in paragraph (1) of this subsection) to the United States or a State in which such land is located, at the option of such State, as may be necessary to protect the public health, welfare, and the environment from any effects associated with such byproduct material. In exercising the authority of this paragraph, the Commission shall take into consideration the status of the ownership of such land and interests therein and the ability of the licensee to transfer title and custody thereof to the United States or a State.
(5)The Commission may, pursuant to a license, or by rule or order, require the Secretary or other Federal agency or State having custody of such property and materials to undertake such monitoring, maintenance, and emergency measures as are necessary to protect the public health and safety and such other actions as the Commission deems necessary to comply with the standards promulgated pursuant to section 2114 of this title. The Secretary or such other Federal agency is authorized to carry out maintenance, monitoring, and emergency measures, but shall take no other action pursuant to such license, rule or order, with respect to such property and materials unless expressly authorized by Congress after November 8, 1978.
(6)The transfer of title to land or byproduct materials, as defined in section 2014(e)(2) of this title, to a State or the United States pursuant to this subsection shall not relieve any licensee of liability for any fraudulent or negligent acts done prior to such transfer.
(7)Material and land transferred to the United States or a State in accordance with this subsection shall be transferred without cost to the United States or a State (other than administrative and legal costs incurred in carrying out such transfer). Subject to the provisions of paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection, the United States or a State shall not transfer title to material or property acquired under this subsection to any person, unless such transfer is in the same manner as provided under section 7914(h) of this title.
(8)The provisions of this subsection respecting transfer of title and custody to land shall not apply in the case of lands held in trust by the United States for any Indian tribe or lands owned by such Indian tribe subject to a restriction against alienation imposed by the United States. In the case of such lands which are used for the disposal of byproduct material, as defined in section 2014(e)(2) of this title, the licensee shall be required to enter into such arrangements with the Commission as may be appropriate to assure the long-term maintenance and monitoring of such lands by the United States.
(c)Upon termination on 11 So in original. Probably should be “of”. any license to which this section applies, the Commission shall determine whether or not the licensee has complied with all applicable standards and requirements under such license.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Effective Date
of this section, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b)(1)(A), (4), is three years after Nov. 8, 1978, see section 202(b) of Pub. L. 95–604, set out as an
Effective Date
note below.
Amendments
1979—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–106, § 22(c), substituted “Any license which is in effect on the
Effective Date
of this section and which is subsequently terminated without renewal shall comply with paragraphs (1) and (2) upon termination” for “Any license in effect on November 8, 1978, shall either contain such terms and conditions on renewal thereof after the
Effective Date
of this section, or comply with paragraphs (1) and (2) upon the termination of such license, whichever first occurs”. Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 96–106, § 22(e), among other changes, substituted reference to section 2111 of this title for reference to section 2114(b) of this title.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Pub. L. 95–604, title II, § 202(b), Nov. 8, 1978, 92 Stat. 3036, provided that: “This section [enacting this section] shall be effective three years after the enactment of this Act [Nov. 8, 1978].” Consolidation of Licenses and Procedures Pub. L. 95–604, title II, § 209, Nov. 8, 1978, 92 Stat. 3041, provided that: “The Nuclear Regulatory Commission shall consolidate, to the maximum extent practicable, licenses and licensing procedures under
Amendments
made by this title [see
Effective Date
of 1978 Amendment note set out under section 2014 of this title] with licenses and licensing procedures under other authorities contained in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 [this chapter].” [Provision effective Nov. 8, 1978, see section 208 of Pub. L. 95–604, set out as an
Effective Date
of 1978 Amendment note under section 2014 of this title].
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 2113
Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60