---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 10194"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "10194"
heading: "Siting research and related activities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/10194"
units:
  - "Chapter 108 — Nuclear Waste Policy"
  - "Subchapter II — Research, Development, and Demonstration Regarding Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste and Spent Nuclear Fuel"
---

# §10194. Siting research and related activities

- (a) **In general—** Not later than 30 months after the date on which the [Secretary](/usc/42/10101.md?p=20) completes the identification of sites under [section 10193 of this title](/usc/42/10193.md), the [Secretary](/usc/42/10101.md?p=20) is authorized to complete sufficient evaluation of 3 sites to select a site for expanded [siting research](/usc/42/10101.md?p=22) activities and for other activities under [section 10198 of this title](/usc/42/10198.md). The [Secretary](/usc/42/10101.md?p=20) is authorized to conduct such preconstruction activities relative to such site selection for the [test and evaluation facility](/usc/42/10101.md?p=27) as he deems appropriate. Additional sites for the location of the [test and evaluation facility](/usc/42/10101.md?p=27) authorized in [section 10222(d) of this title](/usc/42/10222.md?p=d) may be evaluated after such 30-month period, following the same procedures as if such sites were to be evaluated within such period.
- (b) **Public meetings and environmental assessment—** Not later than 6 months after the date on which the [Secretary](/usc/42/10101.md?p=20) completes the identification of sites under [section 10193 of this title](/usc/42/10193.md), and before beginning [siting research](/usc/42/10101.md?p=22) activities, the [Secretary](/usc/42/10101.md?p=20) shall hold at least 1 public meeting in the vicinity of each site to inform the residents of the area of the activities to be conducted at such site and to receive their views.
- (c) **Restrictions—** Except as provided in [section 10198 of this title](/usc/42/10198.md) with respect to a [test and evaluation facility](/usc/42/10101.md?p=27), in conducting [siting research](/usc/42/10101.md?p=22) activities pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a)—
  - (1) the [Secretary](/usc/42/10101.md?p=20) shall use the minimum quantity of [high-level radioactive waste](/usc/42/10101.md?p=12) or other radioactive materials, if any, necessary to achieve the test or research objectives;
  - (2) the [Secretary](/usc/42/10101.md?p=20) shall ensure that any radioactive material used or placed on a site shall be fully retrievable; and
  - (3) upon termination of [siting research](/usc/42/10101.md?p=22) activities at a site for any reason, the [Secretary](/usc/42/10101.md?p=20) shall remove any radioactive material at or in the site as promptly as practicable.
- (d) **Title to material—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/10101.md?p=20) may take title, in the name of the Federal Government, to the [high-level radioactive waste](/usc/42/10101.md?p=12), [spent nuclear fuel](/usc/42/10101.md?p=23), or other radioactive material emplaced in a [test and evaluation facility](/usc/42/10101.md?p=27). If the [Secretary](/usc/42/10101.md?p=20) takes title to any such material, the [Secretary](/usc/42/10101.md?p=20) shall enter into the appropriate financial arrangements described in subsection (a) or (b) of [section 10222 of this title](/usc/42/10222.md) for the [disposal](/usc/42/10101.md?p=9) of such material.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 97–425, title II, § 214, Jan. 7, 1983, 96 Stat. 2247.)