The use of accelerated radioactive beams is now established as a new area of nuclear and applied research. High energy (50-500 MeV/u) facilities are presently in operation while high intensity, low energy (E < 10 MeV/u) facilities are under development. An overview of this field with emphasis on the use of low energy facilities is given along with a summary of the interest and progress for such a facility in North America. A conceptual layout of a benchmark facility (BMF) for comparative purposes is suggested.