---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 10140"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "10140"
heading: "Expedited authorizations"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/10140"
units:
  - "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"
---

# §10140. Expedited authorizations

- (a) **Issuance of authorizations—**
  - (1) To the extent that the taking of any action related to the [site characterization](/usc/42/10101.md?p=21) of a site or the [construction](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=7) or initial operation of a [repository](/usc/42/10101.md?p=18) under this part requires a certificate, right-of-way, permit, lease, or other authorization from a [Federal agency](/usc/42/10101.md?p=13) or officer, such [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) or officer shall issue or grant any such authorization at the earliest practicable date, to the extent permitted by the applicable provisions of law administered by such [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) or officer. All actions of a [Federal agency](/usc/42/10101.md?p=13) or officer with respect to consideration of applications or requests for the issuance or grant of any such authorization shall be expedited, and any such application or request shall take precedence over any similar applications or requests not related to such [repositories](/usc/42/10101.md?p=18).
  - (2) The provisions of [paragraph (1)](#a-1) shall not apply to any certificate, right-of-way, permit, lease, or other authorization issued or granted by, or requested from, the [Commission](/usc/42/10101.md?p=7).
- (b) **Terms of authorizations—** Any authorization issued or granted pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a) shall include such terms and conditions as may be required by law, and may include terms and conditions permitted by law.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 97–425, title I, § 120, Jan. 7, 1983, 96 Stat. 2227.)