Nuclear Waste Policy Act

The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 is a United States federal law which established a comprehensive national program for the safe, permanent disposal of highly radioactive wastes.

  • The US Congress amended the act in 1987 to designate Yucca Mountain, Nevada, as the sole repository.
  • The act allowed Nevada to override this designation, which it did in April 2002.
  • Congress overrode Nevada's veto in July 2002.
  • Nevada appealed, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia sided with Nevada in 2004.
  • At least one other jurisdiction (Aiken County, South Carolina in 2011) filed suit to force Yucca Mountain to accept the nuclear waste from the rest of the US.
Nuclear Waste Policy Act
Other short titles
  • Atomic Energy Act Amendments of 1981
  • Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982
Long titleAn act to provide for the development of repositories for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, to establish a program of research, development, and demonstration regarding the disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, and for other purposes.
Enacted bythe 97th United States Congress
EffectiveJanuary 7, 1983
Citations
Public law97-425
Statutes at Large96 Stat. 2201
Codification
Titles amended42 U.S.C.: Public Health and Social Welfare
U.S.C. sections created42 U.S.C. ch. 108 ยง 10101
Legislative history
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