Reading Room Document

Application of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act to the Department of Energy's Atomic Energy Act Facilities

The nuclear production and weapons facilities that are operated by the Department of Energy (DOE) pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act (AEA) are generally subject to the requirements of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) governing the disposal of solid wastes, including applicable standards, regulations, permit requirements, and enforcement mechanisms. 42 U.S.C. § 6961. Particular RCRA regulations or requirements may not apply to DOE facilities when the application of such regulation or requirement would be inconsistent with specific requirements of the AEA that flow directly from DOE's statutory mandate to develop and use atomic energy. 42 U.S.C. § 6905(a). Whether a particular RCRA regulation or requirement is inconsistent with the requirements of the AEA must be analyzed by DOE and the Environmental Protection Agency on a case-by-case basis. However, § 1006(a) of RCRA, 42 U.S.C. § 6905(a), should relieve DOE from compliance with RCRA regulations or requirements (1) if they conflict with prescriptive directives contained in the AEA itself, such as the AEA restrictions on public disclosure of restricted data; (2) if compliance would prevent DOE from carrying out authorized AEA activities; or (3) if compliance would be inconsistent with specific operational needs of a facility that are unique to the production of nuclear material or components. In addition, a state may not exercise veto power over the establishment or operation of a DOE facility, either by denying necessary permits, or by seeking injunctive relief, because of noncompliance with a RCRA regulation that is inconsistent with the AEA. The OLC does not provide release dates for its opinions, so the release date listed is the date on which the opinion was authored. The original opinion is available at www.justice.gov/file/23586/download.

February 9, 1984