---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 7920"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "7920"
heading: "Enforcement"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/7920"
units:
  - "Chapter 88 — Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control"
  - "Subchapter I — Remedial Action Program"
---

# §7920. Enforcement

- (a) **Civil penalty; appellate review; action to recover civil penalty; sovereign immunity; equitable remedies—**
  - (1) Any [person](/usc/42/7911.md?p=5) who violates any provision of this subchapter or any cooperative agreement entered into pursuant to this subchapter or any rule prescribed under this chapter concerning any designated [processing site](/usc/42/7911.md?p=6), disposition site, or remedial action shall be subject to an assessment by the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) of a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 per day per [violation](/usc/42/2000e–16a.md?p=c). Such assessment shall be made by order after notice and an opportunity for a public hearing, pursuant to [section 554 of title 5](/usc/5/554.md).
  - (2) Any [person](/usc/42/7911.md?p=5) against whom a penalty is assessed under this section may, within sixty calendar days after the date of the order of the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) assessing such penalty, institute an action in the [United States](/usc/42/7911.md?p=10) court of appeals for the appropriate judicial circuit for judicial review of such order in accordance with chapter 7 of title 5. The court shall have jurisdiction to enter a judgment affirming, modifying, or setting aside in whole or in part, the order of the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1), or the court may remand the proceeding to the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) for such further action as the court may direct.
  - (3) If any [person](/usc/42/7911.md?p=5) fails to pay an assessment of a civil penalty after it has become a final and unappealable order, the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) shall institute an action to recover the amount of such penalty in any appropriate district court of the [United States](/usc/42/7911.md?p=10). In such action, the validity and appropriateness of such final assessment order or judgment shall not be subject to review. [Section 7172(d) of this title](/usc/42/7172.md?p=d) shall not apply with respect to the functions of the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) under this section.
  - (4) No civil penalty may be assessed against the [United States](/usc/42/7911.md?p=10) or any [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) or political subdivision of a [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) or any official or employee of the foregoing.
  - (5) Nothing in this section shall prevent the [Secretary](/usc/42/7911.md?p=1) from enforcing any provision of this subchapter or any cooperative agreement or any such rule by injunction or other equitable remedy.
- (b) **Atomic energy licensing requirements—** [Subsection (a)](#a) shall not apply to any licensing requirement under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 [[42 U.S.C. 2011](/usc/42/2011.md) et seq.]. Such licensing requirements shall be enforced by the [Commission](/usc/42/7911.md?p=2) as provided in such Act.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–604, title I, § 110, Nov. 8, 1978, 92 Stat. 3030.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (a)(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.

The Atomic Energy Act of 1954, referred to in subsec. (b), 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 chapter 23 (§ 2011 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2011 of this title and Tables.