republic-os/legal/us/code/title-49/chapter-51/section-5105.md

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LegalText	49 U.S.C. § 5105	Transporting certain highly radioactive material	us	united_states_code	code_section	49	TRANSPORTATION	51	TRANSPORTATION OF HAZARDOUS MATERIAL	5105	49 U.S.C. § 5105	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc49@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t49/s5105	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-49/usc49.xml	cf58c963a1619e1f29103bf41c26bd4011dbe9c01028f066f9e4734946460c4e	0786acdd244d8f42c5a8e8ed1ec2a8dcb47dd0e02a286752710a20745702a4fb	8325f75c70c4fbc0e16f3268f8bb3076fffcd4c748cd73ae8746412e304460c2	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

49 U.S.C. § 5105 - Transporting certain highly radioactive material

Text

(a) Definitions.— In this section, “high-level radioactive waste” and “spent nuclear fuel” have the same meanings given those terms in section 2 of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 U.S.C. 10101).

(b) Transportation Safety Study.— In consultation with the Secretary of Energy, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, potentially affected States and Indian tribes, representatives of the rail transportation industry, and shippers of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, the Secretary shall conduct a study comparing the safety of using trains operated only to transport high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel with the safety of using other methods of rail transportation for transporting that waste and fuel. The Secretary shall submit to Congress not later than November 16, 1991, a report on the results of the study.

(c) Safe Rail Transportation Regulations.— Not later than November 16, 1992, after considering the results of the study conducted under subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary shall prescribe amendments to existing regulations that the Secretary considers appropriate to provide for the safe rail transportation of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, including trains operated only for transporting high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.

(d) Inspections of Motor Vehicles Transporting Certain Material.— (1) Not later than November 16, 1991, the Secretary shall require by regulation that before each use of a motor vehicle to transport a highway-route-controlled quantity of radioactive material in commerce, the vehicle shall be inspected and certified as complying with this chapter and applicable United States motor carrier safety laws and regulations. The Secretary may require that the inspection be carried out by an authorized United States Government inspector or according to appropriate State procedures.

(2) The Secretary may allow a person, transporting or causing to be transported a highway-route-controlled quantity of radioactive material, to inspect the motor vehicle used to transport the material and to certify that the vehicle complies with this chapter. The inspector qualification requirements the Secretary prescribes for an individual inspecting a motor vehicle apply to an individual conducting an inspection under this paragraph.

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(d), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 762; Pub. L. 109–59, title VII, §§ 7107, 7126, Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1897, 1909.)

Notes

Historical and Revision Notes RevisedSectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 5105(a)49 App.:1813(e).Jan. 3, 1975, Pub. L. 93–633, 88 Stat. 2156, § 116(e); added Oct. 24, 1992, Pub. L. 102–508, § 505(2), 106 Stat. 3311.  49 App.:1813 (note).Nov. 16, 1990, Pub. L. 101–615, § 16(e), 104 Stat. 3263. 5105(b)49 App.:1813(a).Jan. 3, 1975, Pub. L. 93–633, 88 Stat. 2156, § 116(a)–(d); added Oct. 30, 1984, Pub. L. 98–559, § 3, 98 Stat. 2907; restated Nov. 16, 1990, Pub. L. 101–615, § 15, 104 Stat. 3261; Oct. 24, 1992, Pub. L. 102–508, § 505(1), 106 Stat. 3311. 5105(c)49 App.:1813(b). 5105(d)49 App.:1813(c). 5105(e)49 App.:1813(d). In subsection (a), section 16(e) of the Hazardous Materials Transportation Uniform Safety Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–615, 104 Stat. 3263) is included to correct a mistake in the source provisions being restated. See section 16(a)(1) of the Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–615, 104 Stat. 3262), stating that the meanings of “high-level radioactive waste” and “spent nuclear fuel” are as defined in 49 App.:1813, as added by section 15 of the Act (104 Stat. 3261). See also Cong. Rec. S16863 (daily ed., Oct. 23, 1990). In subsection (b), the words “Secretary of Energy” are substituted for “Department of Energy” because of 42:7131. In subsection (c), the word “regulations” is substituted for “rule” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code and because “rule” and “regulation” are synonymous. In subsection (d), before clause (1), the words “In combination” are omitted as surplus.

Editorial Notes

Amendments2005—Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 109–59, § 7126, substituted “Secretary shall” for “Secretary of Transportation shall” wherever appearing. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–59, § 7126, substituted “Secretary shall” for “Secretary of Transportation shall” in par. (1) and “Secretary may” for “Secretary of Transportation may” in par. (2). Pub. L. 109–59, § 7107, redesignated subsec. (e) as (d) and struck out former subsec. (d) which related to a study to be conducted not later than Nov. 16, 1991, to decide which factors, if any, shippers and carriers should consider when selecting routes and modes that would enhance overall public safety related to the transportation of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 109–59, § 7107(2), redesignated subsec. (e) as (d).