Regulations and standards

18.1.2 Legislative system

The policy on regulatory control of RAW management in the United States has evolved through a series of laws establishing federal agencies respon­sible for the safety of radioactive materials. Federal legislation is enacted by Congress and signed into law by the President. US laws apply to all 50 states and its territories. Table 18.1 identifies key US laws governing radio­active waste management; pertinent legislation on the safety of SNF and RAW dates from the 1950s.