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Southwestern Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact
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| Southwestern Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact | |
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| Formation date: | 1987 |
| Member jurisdictions: | 4 |
| Issue(s): | Waste |
| Compact website | |
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The Southwestern Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact is an interstate compact among Arizona, California, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The compact ensures multi-state cooperation regarding the proper management and disposal of low-level radioactive waste (LLRW). The compact also has congressional consent.[1]
History
In the late 1970s, there were three LLRW disposal facilities in the United States. Governors in two of the host states, Nevada and Washington, temporarily closed their facilities to waste from other states, citing growing concerns that their states were disproportionately burdened with the nation's waste.[2]
On the recommendation of the National Governors Association, Congress passed the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act in 1980, shifting the responsibility of waste disposal back to individual states. Their goal was to spur the development of smaller, regional facilities. This resulted in the creation of the Southwestern Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact and other regional waste disposal compacts.[2]
Text of the compact
The legislature of each member state passes the laws with certain modifications, but the core of the legislation remains the same.
See also
External links
- The Council of State Governments - National Center for Interstate Compacts
- Southwestern Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact
- Southwestern LowLevel Radioactive Waste Commission
Footnotes
