An Act to authorize appropriations for financial assistance to limit radiation exposure to the public from uranium mill tailings used for construction, and for other purposes.
PL 95-236 (S.266), enacted 02/21/1978

92 STAT. 38 
PUBLIC LAW 95-236—FEB. 21, 1978 
Feb. 21, 1978 
[S. 266] 
Radiation 
exposure. 
Remedial action. 
Public Law 95-236 
95th Congress 
An Act 
To authorize appropriations for financial assistance to limit radiation exposure 
to tiie public from uranium mill tailings used for construction, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress 
assembled, 
APPROPRIATIONS AUTHORIZATION 
SECTION 1. In addition to amounts otherwise authorized to be appro-
priated and appropriated, there is authorized to be appropriated, 
for the fiscal year 1979, $1,500,000 to carry out the provisions of 
title I I of the Act of June 16,1972 (Public Law 92-314; 86 Stat, 226). 
Federal-State 
cooperation. 
Waiver. 
Report to 
congressional 
committees. 
AMENDMENTS TO PROGRAM PROVIDING REMEDIAL ACTION REGARDING 
URANIUM MILL TAILINGS 
SEC. 2. (a) Section 202 of the Act of June 16, 1972, is amended— 
(1) in subsection (b), by striking out "four years" and insert-
ing in lieu thereof "eight years"; and 
(2) by striking out "and" at the end of subsection (f), by 
striking out the colon at the end of subsection (g) and inserting a 
semicolon in lieu thereof, and by inserting after subsection (g) 
the following new subsections: 
"(h) that, notwithstanding any requirement under subsection 
(b) or (c) of this section, payment for any remedial action com-
menced before the date of the enactment of this subsection may 
be made by the State to the property owner of record at the 
time such action was undertaken, but only if application therefor 
is filed by such owner with the State of Colorado within one year 
after such date of enactment and if the Secretary determines 
that such remedial action was undertaken in accordance with 
otherwise applicable provisions of this title and regulations there-
under ; and 
"(i) that the provision of subsection (c) of this section requir-
ing any remedial action undertaken under this title be performed 
by the State of Colorado or its authorized contractor may be 
waived in writing by the State, with the approval of the Secre-
tary, but only if application therefor is filed with the State by 
the property owner of record requesting such waiver and such 
waiver is granted before the commencement of such remedial 
action:". 
(b) Title I I of such Act is amended by adding at the end thereof 
the following new section: 
"SEC. 205. Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of 
this section, the Secretary of Energy shall prepare and submit a 
detailed report to the Committees on Interstate and Foreign Commerce 
and on the Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
Senate with respect to actions taken or to be taken under this title, 
including data on payments made to the State and owners of record 
and a time table of those actions yet to be taken.". 
PUBLIC LAW 95-236—FEB. 21, 1978 
92 STAT. 39 
(c) Section 202 of such Act is further amended— 
86 Stat. 226. 
(1) by striking out "Atomic Energy Commission" each place 
it appears and inserting "Secretary of Energy" in lieu thereof; 
(2) by striking out "Commission" each place it appears and 
inserting "Secretary" in lieu thereof; and 
(3) by striking out "the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy" 
each place it appears and inserting "both Houses of Congress" in 
lieu thereof. 
(d) Section 203 of such Act is amended— 
86 Stat. 226. 
(1) by striking out "Atomic Energy Commission" and inserting 
"Secretary of Energy" in lieu thereof; and 
(2) by striking out "as it deems necessary" and inserting "as he 
deems necessary" in lieu thereof. 
(e) Authority to make payments under title II of such Act under Payment 
amendments made by this Act shall be available only to such extent or authority, 
in such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriation Acts. 
Approved February 21, 1978. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 95-649, pt. 1 (Comm. on Interstate and Foreign Commerce) 
and No. 95-649, pt. 2 (Comm. on Interior and Insular Affairs). 
SENATE REPORT No. 95-72 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 123 (1977): Apr. 4, considered and passed Senate. 
Vol. 124 (1978): Jan. 24, considered and passed House, amended. 
Feb. 7, Senate concurred in House amendments.