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

# §2021i. Licensing review and approval


In order to ensure the timely development of new [low-level radioactive waste](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=9-A) [disposal](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=7) facilities, the Nuclear Regulatory [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) or, as appropriate, [agreement States](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=1), shall consider an application for a [disposal](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=7) facility license in accordance with the laws applicable to such application, except that the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) and the [agreement state](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=1)[^1] shall—

- (1) not later than 12 months after January 15, 1986, establish procedures and develop the technical capability for processing applications for such licenses;
- (2) to the extent practicable, complete all activities associated with the review and processing of any application for such a license (except for public hearings) no later than 15 months after the date of receipt of such application; and
- (3) to the extent practicable, consolidate all required technical and environmental reviews and public hearings.

## Footnotes

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

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–573, § 9, as added Pub. L. 99–240, title I, § 102, Jan. 15, 1986, 99 Stat. 1859.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### 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.