I 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 617 
To prohibit the importation of certain low-level radioactive waste into the 
United States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 10, 2011 
Mr. MATHESON (for himself, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. CHAFFETZ, and Mr. WEINER) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on En-
ergy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To prohibit the importation of certain low-level radioactive 
waste into the United States. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Radioactive Import 
Deterrence Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION OF IMPORTATION. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Chapter 19 of the Atomic Energy 
Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2015 et seq.) is amended by in-
serting after section 276 the following new section: 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:55 Feb 12, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H617.IH
H617
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
‘‘SEC. 277. IMPORTATION OF LOW-LEVEL RADIO-
ACTIVE WASTE.— 
‘‘a. Except as provided in subsection b. or c., the 
Commission shall not issue a license authorizing the im-
portation into the United States of— 
‘‘(1) low-level radioactive waste (as defined in 
section 2 of the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy 
Act (42 U.S.C. 2021b)); or 
‘‘(2) specific radioactive waste streams exempt-
ed from regulation by the Commission under section 
10 of the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act 
(42 U.S.C. 2021j). 
‘‘b. Subsection a. shall not apply to— 
‘‘(1) low-level radioactive waste being returned 
to a United States Government or military facility 
which is authorized to possess the material; or 
‘‘(2) low-level radioactive waste resulting from 
the use in a foreign country of nuclear material ob-
tained by the foreign user from an entity in the 
United States that is being returned to the United 
States for management and disposal. 
‘‘c. The President may waive the prohibition under 
this section and authorize the grant of a specific license 
to import materials prohibited under subsection a., under 
the rules of the Commission, only after a finding that such 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:55 Feb 12, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H617.IH
H617
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
importation would meet an important national or inter-
national policy goal, such as the use of waste for research 
purposes. Such a waiver must specify the policy goal to 
be achieved, how it is to be achieved, and the amount of 
material to be imported. 
‘‘d. A license not permitted under this section that 
was issued before the date of enactment of this section 
may continue in effect according to its terms, but may 
not be extended or amended with respect to the amount 
of material permitted to be imported.’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS AMENDMENT.—The table 
of contents for the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 is amended 
by inserting after the item relating to section 276 the fol-
lowing new item: 
‘‘Sec. 277. Importation of low-level radioactive waste.’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
02:55 Feb 12, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H617.IH
H617
smartinez on DSKB9S0YB1PROD with BILLS