Low Level Radioactive Waste Burial Act of 1980
Latest action. Referred to House Committee on Science and Technology.
Low-Level Radioactive Waste Burial Act of 1980 - Declares it to be the purpose of this Act to provide Federal assistance for the establishment of low-level radioactive waste disposal facilities to be operated by the individual States. Directs the Secretary of Energy to permit Federal low-level radioactive waste burial facilities to be used for burial of civilian low-level wastes from specified geographical areas for an 18-month period beginning on the date of the Secretary's approval of a State Governor's signed statement declaring the State's intention to develop and operate within its borders a low-level waste facility for burial of future waste from such areas. Permits such use of Federal facilities only upon the Secretary's determination that the State has been unable to acquire a commitment for disposal of such wastes at existing commercial or State-operated facilities in the same geographical areas as the source of such wastes. Sets forth criteria for granting extensions of the period during which States may use Federal facilities. States that Congress consents to any interstate compacts or agreements entered into between States in any region for the burial of such wastes at a facility located in that region. Authorizes the Secretary: (1) to conduct research and development designed to assist States in selecting sites for such facilities and performing related engineering and testing activities; (2) to provide on-site assistance to States in site evaluation, site development, and related demonstrations; (3) to conduct research on such wastes and provide each State with information derived therefrom; and (4) to take any other actions as necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Act. Directs the Secretary to accelerate research and development and related activities concerning the compacting and immobilization of such wastes to aid States in planning and related activities under this Act. States that the planning activities related to the selection of a low-level waste facility site shall not be considered as a major Federal action for the purposes of the environmental impact statement requirement of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and eliminates the requirement that alternative means of disposing such wastes be included in any such statement. Directs the Secretary to keep the appropriate congressional committees informed as to all activities conducted under this Act. Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act for fiscal year 1980.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in House" stage on February 21, 1980. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on February 21, 1980: Referred to House Committee on Science and Technology.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the House
- Passage by the Senate
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 96th Congress (1979-80), 613 of the 12,581 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 4.9 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
JOHN WYDLER (R-NY) introduced it on February 21, 1980. No cosponsors are recorded.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on February 21, 1980, 17003 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 17003 days ago, on February 21, 1980.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 96th Congress has not finished by January 3, 1981 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- HouseIn committee, no floor vote yet
- SenateAwaits House passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers