§2297h–11 Low-level Waste

Summary

The Secretary must accept low-level radioactive waste for disposal when the waste generator asks. That includes depleted uranium if it is finally decided to be low-level waste. This covers waste from the corporation tied to gaseous diffusion plants and from people licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to run uranium enrichment plants. The generator must pay the Secretary’s disposal costs, including a fair share of capital costs, but not more than what commercial, State, regional, or interstate compact sites would charge. If depleted uranium is ruled low-level, the generator must pay the Secretary’s full costs with no cap. If a licensee asks, the Secretary must take ownership and store depleted uranium at an existing DUF6 storage facility. A generator may also arrange disposal with any other authorized disposal provider. States or interstate compacts are not responsible for treating, storing, or disposing of low-level or mixed waste that comes from operating, cleaning up, or closing uranium enrichment plants.