Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 96 Part 2.djvu/887

 PUBLIC LAW 97-425—JAN. 7, 1983

96 STAT. 2249

U.S.C. 4332(2)(0), or to require the preparation of environmental reports, except as otherwise specifically provided for in this title. (2) The Secretary and the heads of all other Federal agencies shall, to the maximum extent possible, avoid duplication of efforts in the preparation of reports under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ON DISPOSAL OF HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE

SEC. 217, (a) PURPOSE.—Not later than 64 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary is authorized to, to the extent practicable, begin at a site evaluated under section 214, as part of and as an extension of siting research activities of such site under such section, the mining and construction of a test and evaluation facility. Prior to the mining and construction of such facility, the Secretary shall prepare an environmental assessment. The purpose of such facility shall be— (1) to supplement and focus the repository site characterization process; (2) to provide the conditions under which known technological components can be integrated to demonstrate a functioning repository-like system; (3) to provide a means of identifying, evaluating, and resolving potential repository licensing issues that could not be resolved during the siting research program conducted under section 212; (4) to validate, under actual conditions, the scientific models used in the design of a repository; (5) to refine the design and engineering of repository components and systems and to confirm the predicted behavior of such components and systems; (6) to supplement the siting data, the generic and specific geological characteristics developed under section 214 relating to isolating disposal materials in the physical environment of a repository; (7) to evaluate the design concepts for packaging, handling, and emplacement of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel at the design rate; and (8) to establish operating capability without exposing workers to excessive radiation. (b) DESIGN.—The Secretary shall design each test and evaluation facility— (1) to be capable of receiving not more than 100 full-sized canisters of solidified high-level radioactive waste (which canisters shall not exceed an aggregate weight of 100 metric tons), except that spent nuclear fuel may be used instead of such waste if such waste cannot be obtained under reasonable conditions; (2) to permit full retrieval of solidified high-level radioactive waste, or other radioactive material used by the Secretary for testing, upon completion of the technology demonstration activities; and (3) based upon the principle that the high-level radioactive waste, spent nuclear fuel, or other radioactive material involved shall be isolated from the biosphere in such a way that the

42 USC 10197.

Environmental assessment.

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