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Title 50, War and National DefenseRelease 119-73not60

§2621 Safety Measures for Waste Tanks at Hanford Nuclear Reservation

Title 50 › Chapter 42— ATOMIC ENERGY DEFENSE PROVISIONS › Subchapter IV— DEFENSE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANUP MATTERS › Part C— Hanford Reservation, Washington › § 2621

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Energy must, by February 3, 1991, find which single‑ or double‑shelled high‑level waste tanks at Hanford could seriously leak because of uncontrolled rises in temperature or pressure. For each tank found, the Secretary must check whether continuous monitoring is in place and install monitoring quickly if it is missing — but only if the monitoring itself will not raise the risk of a release. By March 5, 1991, the Secretary must create action plans to respond to high temperature, high pressure, or a leak in any identified tank. Starting March 5, 1991, no more high‑level waste may be put into an identified tank (except tiny samples taken and returned for testing) unless the Secretary finds there is no safer option or the tank is not a serious risk.

Full Legal Text

Title 50, §2621

War and National Defense, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Not later than February 3, 1991, the Secretary of Energy shall identify which single-shelled or double-shelled high-level nuclear waste tanks at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, Richland, Washington, may have a serious potential for release of high-level waste due to uncontrolled increases in temperature or pressure. After completing such identification, the Secretary shall determine whether continuous monitoring is being carried out to detect a release or excessive temperature or pressure at each tank so identified. If such monitoring is not being carried out, as soon as practicable the Secretary shall install such monitoring, but only if a type of monitoring that does not itself increase the danger of a release can be installed.
(b)Not later than March 5, 1991, the Secretary of Energy shall develop action plans to respond to excessive temperature or pressure or a release from any tank identified under subsection (a).
(c)Beginning March 5, 1991, no additional high-level nuclear waste (except for small amounts removed and returned to a tank for analysis) may be added to a tank identified under subsection (a) unless the Secretary determines that no safer alternative than adding such waste to the tank currently exists or that the tank does not pose a serious potential for release of high-level nuclear waste.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2014—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 113–291 struck out subsec. (d). Text read as follows: “Not later than
May 5, 1991, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on actions taken to promote tank safety, including actions taken pursuant to this section, and the Secretary’s timetable for resolving outstanding issues on how to handle the waste in such tanks.” 2003—Pub. L. 108–136, § 3141(g)(16)(D)(i), made technical amendment to section catchline. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–136, § 3141(g)(16)(D)(ii), substituted “Not later than
February 3, 1991,” for “Within 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–136, § 3141(g)(16)(D)(iii), substituted “Not later than
March 5, 1991,” for “Within 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–136, § 3141(g)(16)(D)(iv), substituted “Beginning
March 5, 1991,” for “Beginning 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 108–136, § 3141(g)(16)(D)(v), substituted “Not later than
May 5, 1991,” for “Within six months after the date of the enactment of this Act,”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

50 U.S.C. § 2621

Title 50, War and National Defense

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60