US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

42 U.S.C. § 2023

State authority to regulate radiation below level of regulatory concern of Nuclear Regulatory Commission

(a)

In general

42 U.S.C. 2021bNo provision of this chapter, or of the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act [ et seq.], may be construed to prohibit or otherwise restrict the authority of any State to regulate, on the basis of radiological hazard, the disposal or off-site incineration of low-level radioactive waste, if the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, after , exempts such waste from regulation.

(b)

Relation to other State authority

This section may not be construed to imply preemption of existing State authority. Except as expressly provided in subsection (a), this section may not be construed to confer on any State any additional authority to regulate activities licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

(c)

Definitions

For purposes of this section:
(1)
The term “low-level radioactive waste” means radioactive material classified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as low-level radioactive waste on .
(2)
The term “off-site incineration” means any incineration of radioactive materials at a facility that is located off the site where such materials were generated.
(3)
The term “State” means each of the several States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.

Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724Pub. L. 102–486, title XXIX, § 2901(a)106 Stat. 3122(, title I, § 276, as added , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

act Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724act Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 168 Stat. 919section 2011 of this titleThis chapter, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original “this Act”, meaning , as added by , , known as the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Pub. L. 96–573Pub. L. 99–240, title I, § 10299 Stat. 1842section 2021b of this titleThe Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is , as amended generally by , , , which is classified generally to section 2021b et seq. of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.