---
type: "LegalText"
title: "42 U.S.C. § 10191"
description: "Purpose"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
chapter_number: "108"
chapter_name: "NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY"
section: "10191"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 10191"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc42@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s10191"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-42/usc42.xml"
source_hash: "58050604cf97c5c87d675f29126f065ff8e62a4920553d455defa8e52c70f8eb"
raw_snapshot_hash: "644321055a08eb1f260a6a3e31ac157fa024756abf612a9fd6857e7e400cf24e"
text_hash: "6eae8050e53f69180fb08785a894ac3676c62499c447f947653873faa37074fc"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 42 U.S.C. § 10191 - Purpose

## Text

It is the purpose of this subchapter—

(1) to provide direction to the Secretary with respect to the disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel;

(2) to authorize the Secretary, pursuant to this subchapter—

(A) to provide for the construction, operation, and maintenance of a deep geologic test and evaluation facility; and

(B) to provide for a focused and integrated high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel research and development program, including the development of a test and evaluation facility to carry out research and provide an integrated demonstration of the technology for deep geologic disposal of high-level radioactive waste, and the development of the facilities to demonstrate dry storage of spent nuclear fuel; and

(3) to provide for an improved cooperative role between the Federal Government and States, affected Indian tribes, and units of general local government in the siting of a test and evaluation facility.

(Pub. L. 97–425, title II, § 211, Jan. 7, 1983, 96 Stat. 2245.)