
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC10131]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                    CHAPTER 108--NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY
 
  SUBCHAPTER I--DISPOSAL AND STORAGE OF HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE, 
           SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL, AND LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE
 
 Part A--Repositories for Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste and 
                           Spent Nuclear Fuel
 
Sec. 10131. Findings and purposes

    (a) The Congress finds that--
        (1) radioactive waste creates potential risks and requires safe 
    and environmentally acceptable methods of disposal;
        (2) a national problem has been created by the accumulation of 
    (A) spent nuclear fuel from nuclear reactors; and (B) radioactive 
    waste from (i) reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel; (ii) activities 
    related to medical research, diagnosis, and treatment; and (iii) 
    other sources;
        (3) Federal efforts during the past 30 years to devise a 
    permanent solution to the problems of civilian radioactive waste 
    disposal have not been adequate;
        (4) while the Federal Government has the responsibility to 
    provide for the permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste 
    and such spent nuclear fuel as may be disposed of in order to 
    protect the public health and safety and the environment, the costs 
    of such disposal should be the responsibility of the generators and 
    owners of such waste and spent fuel;
        (5) the generators and owners of high-level radioactive waste 
    and spent nuclear fuel have the primary responsibility to provide 
    for, and the responsibility to pay the costs of, the interim storage 
    of such waste and spent fuel until such waste and spent fuel is 
    accepted by the Secretary of Energy in accordance with the 
    provisions of this chapter;
        (6) State and public participation in the planning and 
    development of repositories is essential in order to promote public 
    confidence in the safety of disposal of such waste and spent fuel; 
    and
        (7) high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel have 
    become major subjects of public concern, and appropriate precautions 
    must be taken to ensure that such waste and spent fuel do not 
    adversely affect the public health and safety and the environment 
    for this or future generations.

    (b) The purposes of this part are--
        (1) to establish a schedule for the siting, construction, and 
    operation of repositories that will provide a reasonable assurance 
    that the public and the environment will be adequately protected 
    from the hazards posed by high-level radioactive waste and such 
    spent nuclear fuel as may be disposed of in a repository;
        (2) to establish the Federal responsibility, and a definite 
    Federal policy, for the disposal of such waste and spent fuel;
        (3) to define the relationship between the Federal Government 
    and the State governments with respect to the disposal of such waste 
    and spent fuel; and
        (4) to establish a Nuclear Waste Fund, composed of payments made 
    by the generators and owners of such waste and spent fuel, that will 
    ensure that the costs of carrying out activities relating to the 
    disposal of such waste and spent fuel will be borne by the persons 
    responsible for generating such waste and spent fuel.

(Pub. L. 97-425, title I, Sec. 111, Jan. 7, 1983, 96 Stat. 2207.)
