---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 2021c"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "2021c"
heading: "Responsibilities for disposal of low-level radioactive waste"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/2021c"
units:
  - "Chapter 23 — Development and Control of Atomic Energy"
  - "Division A — Atomic Energy"
  - "Subchapter I — General Provisions"
---

# §2021c. Responsibilities for disposal of low-level radioactive waste

- (a)
  - (1) Each [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) shall be responsible for providing, either by itself or in cooperation with other [States](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14), for the [disposal](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=7) of—
    - (A) [low-level radioactive waste](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=9-A) generated within the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) (other than by the Federal Government) that consists of or contains class A, B, or C radioactive waste as defined by section 61.55 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on January 26, 1983;
    - (B) [low-level radioactive waste](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=9-A) described in [subparagraph (A)](#a-1-A) that is generated by the Federal Government except such waste that is—
      - (i) owned or generated by the Department of Energy;
      - (ii) owned or generated by the [United States](/usc/42/2014.md?p=bb) Navy as a result of the decommissioning of vessels of the [United States](/usc/42/2014.md?p=bb) Navy; or
      - (iii) owned or generated as a result of any research, development, testing, or production of any [atomic weapon](/usc/42/2014.md?p=d); and
    - (C) [low-level radioactive waste](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=9-A) described in subparagraphs [(A)](#a-1-A) and [(B)](#a-1-B) that is generated outside of the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) and accepted for [disposal](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=7) in accordance with sections[^1] 2021e or [2021f](/usc/42/2021f.md) of this title.
  - (2) No [regional disposal facility](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=11) may be required to accept for [disposal](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=7) any material—
    - (A) that is not [low-level radioactive waste](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=9-A) as defined by section 61.55 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on January 26, 1983, or
    - (B) identified under the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program.

    Nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed to prohibit a [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14), subject to the provisions of its [compact](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=4), or a [compact region](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=6) from accepting for [disposal](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=7) any material identified in subparagraph [(A)](#a-2-A) or [(B)](#a-2-B).

- (b)
  - (1) The Federal Government shall be responsible for the [disposal](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=7) of—
    - (A) [low-level radioactive waste](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=9-A) owned or generated by the Department of Energy;
    - (B) [low-level radioactive waste](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=9-A) owned or generated by the [United States](/usc/42/2014.md?p=bb) Navy as a result of the decommissioning of vessels of the [United States](/usc/42/2014.md?p=bb) Navy;
    - (C) [low-level radioactive waste](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=9-A) owned or generated by the Federal Government as a result of any research, development, testing, or production of any [atomic weapon](/usc/42/2014.md?p=d); and
    - (D) any other [low-level radioactive waste](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=9-A) with concentrations of radionuclides that exceed the limits established by the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) for class C radioactive waste, as defined by section 61.55 of title 10, Code of Federal Regulations, as in effect on January 26, 1983.
  - (2) All radioactive waste designated a Federal responsibility pursuant to subparagraph (b)(1)(D) that results from activities licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, shall be disposed of in a facility licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) that the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) determines is adequate to protect the public health and safety.
  - (3) Not later than 12 months after January 15, 1986, the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall submit to the Congress a comprehensive report setting forth the recommendations of the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) for ensuring the safe [disposal](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=7) of all radioactive waste designated a Federal responsibility pursuant to subparagraph (b)(1)(D). Such report shall include—
    - (A) an identification of the radioactive waste involved, including the source of such waste, and the volume, concentration, and other relevant characteristics of such waste;
    - (B) an identification of the Federal and non-Federal options for [disposal](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=7) of such radioactive waste;
    - (C) a description of the actions proposed to ensure the safe [disposal](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=7) of such radioactive waste;
    - (D) a description of the projected costs of undertaking such actions;
    - (E) an identification of the options for ensuring that the beneficiaries of the activities resulting in the generation of such radioactive wastes bear all reasonable costs of disposing of such wastes; and
    - (F) an identification of any statutory authority required for [disposal](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=7) of such waste.
  - (4) The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) may not dispose of any radioactive waste designated a Federal responsibility pursuant to paragraph (b)(1)(D) that becomes a Federal responsibility for the first time pursuant to such paragraph until ninety days after the report prepared pursuant to [paragraph (3)](#b-3) has been submitted to the Congress.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “section”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–573, § 3, as added Pub. L. 99–240, title I, § 102, Jan. 15, 1986, 99 Stat. 1843.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Atomic Energy Act of 1954, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is act Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, as added by act Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 1, 68 Stat. 919, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2011 of this title and Tables.

January 15, 1986, referred to in subsec. (b)(3), was in the original “the date of enactment of this Act” and was translated as meaning the date of enactment of Pub. L. 99–240 to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act, and not as part of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 which comprises this chapter.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 2021c, Pub. L. 96–573, § 3, Dec. 22, 1980, 94 Stat. 3347, related to the applicability of low-level radioactive waste compacts, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 99–240, § 102. See section 2021d of this title.