Nuclear Waste Policy Act
| Other short titles |
|
|---|---|
| Long title | An 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 by | the 97th United States Congress |
| Effective | January 7, 1983 |
| Citations | |
| Public law | 97-425 |
| Statutes at Large | 96 Stat. 2201 |
| Codification | |
| Titles amended | 42 U.S.C.: Public Health and Social Welfare |
| U.S.C. sections created | 42 U.S.C. ch. 108 § 10101 |
| Legislative history | |
| |
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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.