Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§2297g–2 Department Facilities

Title 42 › CHAPTER 23 — DEVELOPMENT AND CONTROL OF ATOMIC ENERGY › SUBCHAPTER VII — DECONTAMINATION AND DECOMMISSIONING › § 2297g–2

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The National Academy of Sciences must study how to lower the cost of cleaning up and closing Department facilities and send Congress a report within 3 years after October 24, 1992. The report must say what cleanup each site needs, list different methods and technologies, include on-site contamination surveys, and give cost estimates. All cleanup and closing costs must be paid from the Fund until the Secretary certifies and Congress passes a law saying the work is finished. Annual cleanup costs at the Department’s gaseous diffusion plants are paid from the Fund if money is available; if not, the Department must pay. This does not remove the Department’s legal responsibilities under federal and state law.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §2297g–2

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

(a)Study by National Academy of Sciences

The National Academy of Sciences shall conduct a study and provide recommendations for reducing costs associated with decontamination and decommissioning, and shall report its findings to the Congress within 3 years after October 24, 1992. Such report shall include a determination of the decontamination and decommissioning required for each facility, shall identify alternative methods, using different technologies, shall include site-specific surveys of the actual contamination, and shall provide estimated costs of those activities.

(b)Payment of decontamination and decommissioning costs

The costs of all decontamination and decommissioning activities of the Department shall be paid from the Fund until such time as the Secretary certifies and the Congress concurs, by law, that such activities are complete.

(c)Payment of remedial action costs

The annual cost of remedial action at the Department’s gaseous diffusion facilities shall be paid from the Fund to the extent the amount available in the Fund is sufficient. To the extent the amount in the Fund is insufficient, the Department shall be responsible for the cost of remedial action. No provision of this division may be construed to relieve in any way the responsibility or liability of the Department for remedial action under applicable Federal and State laws and regulations.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 2297g–2

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110