---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 6202"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "6202"
heading: "Hanford waste tank cleanup program reforms"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/6202"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part VI — Elements of Department of Defense and Other Matters"
  - "Subpart B — Atomic Energy Defense"
  - "Chapter 604 — Defense Environmental Cleanup Matters"
  - "Subchapter III — Hanford Reservation, Washington"
---

# §6202. Hanford waste tank cleanup program reforms

- (a) **Establishment of Office of River Protection.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Energy shall establish an office at the Hanford Reservation, Richland, Washington, to be known as the “Office of River Protection” (in this section referred to as the “Office”).
- (b) **Management and Responsibilities of Office.—**
  - (1) The Office shall be headed by a senior official of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Energy, who shall report to the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Energy for Environmental Management.
  - (2) The head of the Office shall be responsible for managing all aspects of the River Protection Project, Richland, Washington, including Hanford Tank Farm operations and the Waste Treatment Plant.
  - (3)
    - (A) The Assistant [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Energy for Environmental Management shall delegate in writing responsibility for the management of the River Protection Project, Richland, Washington, to the head of the Office.
    - (B) Such delegation shall include, at a minimum, authorities for contracting, financial management, safety, and general [program](/usc/10/2101.md?p=1) management that are equivalent to the authorities of managers of other operations offices of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Energy.
    - (C) The head of the Office shall, to the maximum extent possible, coordinate all activities of the Office with the manager of the Richland Operations Office of the [Department](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-6) of Energy.
- (c) **Department Responsibilities.—** The [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) shall provide the head of the Office with the resources and personnel necessary to carry out the responsibilities specified in [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2).
- (d) **Notification.—** The Assistant [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Energy for Environmental Management shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives written notification detailing any changes in the roles, responsibilities, and reporting relationships that involve the Office.
- (e) **Termination.—** The Office shall terminate on September 30, 2024. The Office may be extended beyond that date if the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Energy for Environmental Management determines in writing that termination would disrupt effective management of the Hanford Tank Farm operations.

## Source credit

(Added and amended Pub. L. 119–60, div. C, title XXXI, § 3111(a), (d)(2)(B), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1399, 1462.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 6202 was renumbered section 8282 of this title.

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 2622 of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(b)(1).

### Amendments

2025—Pub. L. 119–60, § 3111(d)(2)(B), realigned margins.