---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 10204"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "10204"
heading: "Subseabed disposal"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/10204"
units:
  - "Chapter 108 — Nuclear Waste Policy"
  - "Subchapter II — Research, Development, and Demonstration Regarding Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste and Spent Nuclear Fuel"
---

# §10204. Subseabed disposal

- (a) **Repealed. Pub. L. 104–66, title I, § 1051(d), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 716—**
- (b) **Office of Subseabed Disposal Research—**
  - (1) There is hereby established an [Office](/usc/42/10101.md?p=17) of Subseabed [Disposal](/usc/42/10101.md?p=9) Research within the [Office](/usc/42/10101.md?p=17) of Science of the [Department](/usc/42/10101.md?p=8) of Energy. The [Office](/usc/42/10101.md?p=17) shall be headed by the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5), who shall be a member of the Senior Executive Service appointed by the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the [Office](/usc/42/10101.md?p=17) of Science, and compensated at a rate determined by applicable law.
  - (2) The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the [Office](/usc/42/10101.md?p=17) of Subseabed [Disposal](/usc/42/10101.md?p=9) Research shall be responsible for carrying out research, development, and demonstration activities on all aspects of subseabed [disposal](/usc/42/10101.md?p=9) of [high-level radioactive waste](/usc/42/10101.md?p=12) and [spent nuclear fuel](/usc/42/10101.md?p=23), subject to the general supervision of the [Secretary](/usc/42/10101.md?p=20). The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the [Office](/usc/42/10101.md?p=17) shall be directly responsible to the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the [Office](/usc/42/10101.md?p=17) of Science, and the first such [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) shall be appointed within 30 days of December 22, 1987.
  - (3) In carrying out his responsibilities under this chapter, the [Secretary](/usc/42/10101.md?p=20) may make grants to, or enter into contracts with, the Subseabed [Consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) described in subsection (d) of this section, and other persons.
  - (4)
    - (A) Within 60 days of December 22, 1987, the [Secretary](/usc/42/10101.md?p=20) shall establish a university-based Subseabed [Consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) involving leading oceanographic universities and institutions, national laboratories, and other organizations to investigate the technical and institutional feasibility of subseabed [disposal](/usc/42/10101.md?p=9).
    - (B) The Subseabed [Consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) shall develop a research plan and budget to achieve the following objectives by 1995:
      - (i) demonstrate the capacity to identify and characterize potential subseabed [disposal](/usc/42/10101.md?p=9) sites;
      - (ii) develop conceptual designs for a subseabed [disposal](/usc/42/10101.md?p=9) system, including estimated costs and institutional requirements; and
      - (iii) identify and assess the potential impacts of subseabed [disposal](/usc/42/10101.md?p=9) on the human and marine environment.
    - (C) In 1990, and again in 1995, the Subseabed [Consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) shall report to Congress on the progress being made in achieving the objectives of [paragraph (2)](#b-2).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 97–425, title II, § 224, as added Pub. L. 100–202, § 101(d) [title III], Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1329–104, 1329–121; Pub. L. 100–203, title V, § 5063, Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1330–253; amended Pub. L. 104–66, title I, § 1051(d), Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 716; Pub. L. 105–245, title III, § 309(b)(2)(E), Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1853.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Pub. L. 100–202 and Pub. L. 100–203 added identical sections.

### Amendments

1998—Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 105–245 which directed the substitution of “Science” for “Energy Research”, was executed by making the substitution in two places to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 105–245 substituted “Office of Science” for “Office of Energy Research”.

1995—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–66 struck out subsec. (a) which required Secretary of Energy to report to Congress on subseabed disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste.

Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 104–66 struck out par. (5) which read as follows: “The Director of the Office of Subseabed Disposal Research shall annually prepare and submit a report to the Congress on the activities and expenditures of the Office.”