---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 7914"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "7914"
heading: "Acquisition and disposition of lands and materials"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/7914"
units:
  - "Chapter 88 — Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control"
  - "Subchapter I — Remedial Action Program"
---

# §7914. Acquisition and disposition of lands and materials

- (a) **State acquisition; windfall profits prevention—** Each cooperative agreement under [section 7913 of this title](/usc/42/7913.md) shall require the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14), where determined appropriate by the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) with the concurrence of the [Commission](/usc/42/7911.md?p=2), to acquire any designated [processing site](/usc/42/7911.md?p=6), including where appropriate any interest therein. In determining whether to require the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) to acquire a designated [processing site](/usc/42/7911.md?p=6) or interest therein, consideration shall be given to the prevention of windfall profits.
- (b) **Disposition and stabilization site for residual radioactive materials; Federal site available—**
  - (1) If the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) with the concurrence of the [Commission](/usc/42/7911.md?p=2) determines that removal of [residual radioactive material](/usc/42/7911.md?p=7) from a [processing site](/usc/42/7911.md?p=6) is appropriate, the cooperative agreement shall provide that the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) shall acquire land (including, where appropriate, any interest therein) to be used as a site for the permanent disposition and stabilization of such [residual radioactive materials](/usc/42/7911.md?p=7) in a safe and environmentally sound manner.
  - (2) Acquisition by the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) shall not be required under this subsection if a site located on land controlled by the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) or made available by the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) of the Interior pursuant to [section 7916(2) of this title](/usc/42/7916.md?p=2) is designated by the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1), with the concurrence of the [Commission](/usc/42/7911.md?p=2), for such disposition and stabilization.
- (c) **Boundary limitations—** No [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) shall be required under subsection [(a)](#a) or [(b)](#b) to acquire any real property or improvement outside the boundaries of—
  - (1) that portion of the [processing site](/usc/42/7911.md?p=6) which is described in [section 7911(6)(A) of this title](/usc/42/7911.md?p=6-A), and
  - (2) the site used for disposition of the [residual radioactive materials](/usc/42/7911.md?p=7).
- (d) **Purchasers of sites; notification; rules and regulations—** In the case of each [processing site](/usc/42/7911.md?p=6) designated under this subchapter other than a site designated on Indian land, the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) shall take such action as may be necessary, and pursuant to regulations of the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) under this subsection, to assure that any [person](/usc/42/7911.md?p=5) who purchases such a [processing site](/usc/42/7911.md?p=6) after the removal of radioactive materials from such site shall be notified in an appropriate manner prior to such purchase, of the nature and extent of [residual radioactive materials](/usc/42/7911.md?p=7) removed from the site, including notice of the date when such action took place, and the condition of such site after such action. If the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) is the [owner](/usc/42/13641.md?p=4) of such site, the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) shall so notify any prospective purchaser before entering into a contract, option, or other arrangement to sell or otherwise dispose of such site. The [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) shall issue appropriate rules and regulations to require notice in the local land records of the [residual radioactive materials](/usc/42/7911.md?p=7) which were located at any [processing site](/usc/42/7911.md?p=6) and notice of the nature and extent of [residual radioactive materials](/usc/42/7911.md?p=7) removed from the site, including notice of the date when such action took place. For purposes of this subsection, the term “site” does not include any property described in [section 7911(6)(B) of this title](/usc/42/7911.md?p=6-B) which is in a [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) which the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) has certified has a program which would achieve the purposes of this subsection.
- (e) **State disposition; terms and conditions; fair market value; offer of sale to prior owner—**
  - (1) The terms and conditions of any cooperative agreement with a [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) under [section 7913 of this title](/usc/42/7913.md) shall provide that in the case of any lands or interests therein acquired by the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) pursuant to [subsection (a)](#a), the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14), with the concurrence of the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) and the [Commission](/usc/42/7911.md?p=2), may—
    - (A) sell such lands and interests,
    - (B) permanently retain such land and interests in lands (or donate such lands and interests therein to another governmental entity within such [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14)) for permanent use by such [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) or entity solely for park, recreational, or other public purposes, or
    - (C) transfer such lands and interests to the [United States](/usc/42/7911.md?p=10) as provided in [subsection (f)](#f).

    No lands may be sold under [subparagraph (A)](#e-1-A) without the consent of the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) and the [Commission](/usc/42/7911.md?p=2). No site may be sold under [subparagraph (A)](#e-1-A) or retained under [subparagraph (B)](#e-1-B) if such site is used for the disposition of [residual radioactive materials](/usc/42/7911.md?p=7).

  - (2) Before offering for sale any lands and interests therein which comprise a [processing site](/usc/42/7911.md?p=6), the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) shall offer to sell such lands and interests at their fair market value to the [person](/usc/42/7911.md?p=5) from whom the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) acquired them.
- (f) **Transfer of title to Secretary; payment from funds for administrative and legal costs; custody of property; compliance with health and environmental standards for uranium mill tailings; transfer of title restriction—**
  - (1) Each agreement under [section 7913 of this title](/usc/42/7913.md) shall provide that title to—
    - (A) the [residual radioactive materials](/usc/42/7911.md?p=7) subject to the agreement, and
    - (B) any lands and interests therein which have been acquired by the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14), under subsection [(a)](#a) or [(b)](#b), for the disposition of such materials,

    shall be transferred by the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) to the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) when the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) (with the concurrence of the [Commission](/usc/42/7911.md?p=2)) determines that remedial action is completed in accordance with the requirements imposed pursuant to this subchapter. No payment shall be made in connection with the transfer of such property from funds appropriated for purposes of this chapter other than payments for any administrative and legal costs incurred in carrying out such transfer.

  - (2) Custody of any property transferred to the [United States](/usc/42/7911.md?p=10) under this subsection shall be assumed by the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) or such [Federal agency](/usc/42/7911.md?p=9) as the President may designate. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon completion of the remedial action program authorized by this subchapter, such property and minerals shall be maintained pursuant to a license issued by the [Commission](/usc/42/7911.md?p=2) in such manner as will protect the public health, safety, and the environment. The [Commission](/usc/42/7911.md?p=2) may, pursuant to such license or by rule or order, require the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) or other [Federal agency](/usc/42/7911.md?p=9) having custody of such property and minerals to undertake such monitoring, maintenance, and emergency measures necessary to protect public health and safety and other actions as the [Commission](/usc/42/7911.md?p=2) deems necessary to comply with the standards of [section 2022(a) of this title](/usc/42/2022.md?p=a). The [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) or such other [Federal agency](/usc/42/7911.md?p=9) is authorized to carry out maintenance, monitoring and emergency measures under this subsection, but shall take no other action pursuant to such license, rule or order with respect to such property and minerals unless expressly authorized by Congress after November 8, 1978. The [United States](/usc/42/7911.md?p=10) shall not transfer title to property or interest therein acquired under this subsection to any [person](/usc/42/7911.md?p=5) or [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14), except as provided in [subsection (h)](#h).
- (g) **Reimbursement; fair market value; deposits in Treasury—** Each agreement under [section 7913 of this title](/usc/42/7913.md) which permits any sale described in [subsection (e)(1)(A)](#e-1-A) shall provide for the prompt reimbursement to the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) from the proceeds of such sale. Such reimbursement shall be in an amount equal to the lesser of—
  - (1) that portion of the fair market value of the lands or interests therein which bears the same ratio to such fair market value as the Federal share of the costs of acquisition by the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) to such lands or interest therein bears to the total cost of such acquisition, or
  - (2) the total amount paid by the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) with respect to such acquisition.

  The fair market value of such lands or interest shall be determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) as of the date of the sale by the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14). Any amounts received by the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) under this subchapter shall be deposited in the Treasury of the [United States](/usc/42/7911.md?p=10) as miscellaneous receipts.

- (h) **Subsurface mineral rights; sale, lease, or other disposition; restoration costs for disturbance of residual radioactive materials—** No provision of any agreement under [section 7913 of this title](/usc/42/7913.md) shall prohibit the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) of the Interior, with the concurrence of the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) of Energy and the [Commission](/usc/42/7911.md?p=2), from disposing of any subsurface mineral rights by sale or lease (in accordance with laws of the [United States](/usc/42/7911.md?p=10) applicable to the sale, lease, or other [disposal](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=7) of such rights) which are associated with land on which [residual radioactive materials](/usc/42/7911.md?p=7) are disposed and which are transferred to the [United States](/usc/42/7911.md?p=10) as required under this section if the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) of the Interior takes such action as the [Commission](/usc/42/7911.md?p=2) deems necessary pursuant to a license issued by the [Commission](/usc/42/7911.md?p=2) to assure that the [residual radioactive materials](/usc/42/7911.md?p=7) will not be disturbed by reason of any activity carried on following such disposition. If any such materials are disturbed by any such activity, the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) of the Interior shall insure, prior to the disposition of the minerals, that such materials will be restored to a safe and environmentally sound condition as determined by the [Commission](/usc/42/7911.md?p=2), and that the costs of such restoration will be borne by the [person](/usc/42/7911.md?p=5) acquiring such rights from the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) of the Interior or from his successor or assign.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–604, title I, § 104, Nov. 8, 1978, 92 Stat. 3025; Pub. L. 104–259, § 4(a), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3174.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (f)(1), was in the original “this Act”, meaning Pub. L. 95–604, Nov. 8, 1978, 92 Stat. 3021, known as the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note under section 7901 of this title and Tables.

### Amendments

1996—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 104–259 inserted at end “For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘site’ does not include any property described in section 7911(6)(B) of this title which is in a State which the Secretary has certified has a program which would achieve the purposes of this subsection.”