---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 6984"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "6984"
heading: "Full-scale demonstration facilities"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/6984"
units:
  - "Chapter 82 — Solid Waste Disposal"
  - "Subchapter VIII — Research, Development, Demonstration, and Information"
---

# §6984. Full-scale demonstration facilities

- (a) **Authority—** The [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) may enter into contracts with [public agencies](/usc/42/11851.md?p=8) or authorities or private [persons](/usc/42/6903.md?p=15) for the [construction](/usc/42/6903.md?p=2) and operation of a full-scale [demonstration](/usc/42/6903.md?p=2A) facility under this chapter, or provide financial assistance in the form of grants to a full-scale [demonstration](/usc/42/6903.md?p=2A) facility under this chapter only if the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) finds that—
  - (1) such facility or proposed facility will demonstrate at full scale a new or significantly improved technology or process, a practical and significant improvement in [solid waste management](/usc/42/6903.md?p=28) practice, or the technological feasibility and cost effectiveness of an existing, but unproven technology, process, or practice, and will not duplicate any other Federal, [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31), local, or commercial facility which has been constructed or with respect to which [construction](/usc/42/6903.md?p=2) has begun (determined as of the date action is taken by the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) under this chapter),
  - (2) such contract or assistance meets the requirements of [section 6981 of this title](/usc/42/6981.md) and meets other applicable requirements of this chapter,
  - (3) such facility will be able to comply with the guidelines published under [section 6907 of this title](/usc/42/6907.md) and with other laws and regulations for the protection of health and the environment,
  - (4) in the case of a contract for [construction](/usc/42/6903.md?p=2) or operation, such facility is not likely to be constructed or operated by [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31), local, or private [persons](/usc/42/6903.md?p=15) or in the case of an application for financial assistance, such facility is not likely to receive adequate financial assistance from other sources, and
  - (5) any Federal interest in, or assistance to, such facility will be disposed of or terminated, with appropriate compensation, within such period of time as may be necessary to carry out the basic objectives of this chapter.
- (b) **Time limitation—** No obligation may be made by the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) for financial assistance under this subchapter for any full-scale [demonstration](/usc/42/6903.md?p=2A) facility after the date ten years after October 21, 1976. No expenditure of funds for any such full-scale [demonstration](/usc/42/6903.md?p=2A) facility under this subchapter may be made by the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) after the date fourteen years after October 21, 1976.
- (c) **Cost sharing—**
  - (1) Wherever practicable, in constructing, operating, or providing financial assistance under this subchapter to a full-scale [demonstration](/usc/42/6903.md?p=2A) facility, the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) shall endeavor to enter into agreements and make other arrangements for maximum practicable cost sharing with other Federal, [State](/usc/42/6903.md?p=31), and local [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), private [persons](/usc/42/6903.md?p=15), or any combination thereof.
  - (2) The [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) shall enter into arrangements, wherever practicable and desirable, to provide monitoring of full-scale [solid waste](/usc/42/6903.md?p=27) facilities (whether or not constructed or operated under this chapter) for purposes of obtaining information concerning the performance, and other aspects, of such facilities. Where the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) provides only monitoring and evaluation instruments or personnel (or both) or funds for such instruments or personnel and provides no other financial assistance to a facility, notwithstanding [section 6981(c)(3) of this title](/usc/42/6981.md?p=c-3), title to any invention made or conceived of in the course of developing, constructing, or operating such facility shall not be required to vest in the United States and patents respecting such invention shall not be required to be issued to the United States.
- (d) **Prohibition—** After October 21, 1976, the [Administrator](/usc/42/6903.md?p=1) shall not construct or operate any full-scale facility (except by contract with [public agencies](/usc/42/11851.md?p=8) or authorities or private [persons](/usc/42/6903.md?p=15)).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–272, title II, § 8004, as added Pub. L. 94–580, § 2, Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2836; amended Pub. L. 95–609, § 7(v), Nov. 8, 1978, 92 Stat. 3084; Pub. L. 98–616, title V, § 502(f), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3276.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1984—Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 98–616 inserted “(1)” before “Wherever”.

1978—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 95–609 substituted “solid waste” for “discarded material”.

### Executive Documents

### Transfer of Functions

For transfer of certain enforcement functions of Administrator or other official of Environmental Protection Agency under this chapter to Federal Inspector, Office of Federal Inspector for the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation System, and subsequent transfer to Secretary of Energy, then to Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects, see note set out under section 6903 of this title.