I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 617 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 Energy and Commerce A BILL To prohibit the importation of certain low-level radioactive waste into the United States.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Radioactive Import Deterrence Act.

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 inserting after section 276 the following new section:

277.

Importation of Low-Level radioactive waste

a.Except as provided in subsection b. or c., the Commission shall not issue a license authorizing the importation 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 exempted 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 obtained 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 importation would meet an important national or international 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 following new item: Sec. 277. Importation of low-level radioactive waste. .