Idaho State Statutes - Idaho Attorney Directory

NORTHWEST INTERSTATE COMPACT ON LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE
MANAGEMENT. The Northwest Interstate Compact on Low-level Radioactive Waste
Management is hereby enacted into law and entered into by the state of Idaho
as a party, and is in full force and effect between the state and any other
state joining therein in accordance with the terms of the compact, which
compact is substantially as follows:

NORTHWEST INTERSTATE COMPACT ON
LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT

ARTICLE I -- Policy and Purpose

The party states recognize that low-level radioactive wastes are generated
by essential activities and services that benefit the citizens of the states.
It is further recognized that the protection of the health and safety of the
citizens of the party states and the most economical management of low-level
radioactive wastes can be accomplished through cooperation of the states in
minimizing the amount of handling and transportation required to dispose of
such wastes and through the cooperation of the states in providing facilities
that serve the region. It is the policy of the party states to undertake the
necessary cooperation to protect the health and safety of the citizens of the
party states and to provide for the most economical management of low-level
radioactive wastes on a continuing basis. It is the purpose of this compact to
provide the means for such a cooperative effort among the party states so that
the protection of the citizens of the states and the maintenance of the
viability of the states' economies will be enhanced while sharing the
responsibilities of radioactive low-level waste management.

ARTICLE II -- Definitions

As used in this compact:
(1) "Facility" means any site, location, structure, or property used or
to be used for the storage, treatment, or disposal of low-level waste,
excluding federal waste facilities;
(2) "Low-level waste" means waste material which contains radioactive
nuclides emitting primarily beta or gamma radiation, or both, in
concentrations or quantities which exceed applicable federal or state
standards for unrestricted release. Low-level waste does not include waste
containing more than ten (10) nanocuries of transuranic contaminants per gram
of material, nor spent reactor fuel, nor material classified as either
high-level waste or waste which is unsuited for disposal by near-surface
burial under any applicable federal regulations;
(3) "Generator" means any person, partnership, association, corporation,
or any other entity whatsoever which, as a part of its activities, produces
low-level radioactive waste;
(4) "Host state" means a state in which a facility is located.

ARTICLE III -- Regulatory Practices

Each party state hereby agrees to adopt practices which will require
low-level waste shipments originating within its borders and destined for a
facility within another party state to conform to the applicable packaging and
transportation requirements and regulations of the host state. Such practices
shall include:
(1) Maintaining an inventory of all generators within the state that have
shipped or expect to ship low-level waste to facilities in another party
state;
(2) Periodic unannounced inspection of the premises of such generators
and the waste management activities thereon;
(3) Authorization of the containers in which such waste may be shipped,
and a requirement that generators use only that type of container authorized
by the state;
(4) Assurance that inspections of the carriers which transport such waste
are conducted by proper authorities, and appropriate enforcement action taken
for violations;
(5) After receiving notification from a host state that a generator
within the party state is in violation of applicable packaging or
transportation standards, the party state will take appropriate action to
assure that such violations do not recur. Such action may include inspection
of every individual low-level waste shipment by that generator.
Each party state may impose fees upon generators and shippers to recover
the cost of the inspections and other practices under this article. Nothing in
this article shall be construed to limit any party state's authority to impose
additional or more stringent standards on generators or carriers than those
required under this article.

ARTICLE IV -- Regional Facilities

(1) Facilities located in any party state, other than facilities
established or maintained by individual low-level waste generators for the
management of their own low-level waste, shall accept low-level waste
generated in any party state if such waste has been packaged and transported
according to applicable laws and regulations.
(2) No facility located in any party state may accept low-level waste
generated outside of the region comprised of the party states, except as
provided in article V.
(3) Until such time as paragraph (2) of article IV takes effect,
facilities located in any party state may accept low-level waste generated
outside of any of the party states only if such waste is accompanied by a
certificate of compliance issued by an official of the state in which such
waste shipment originated. Such certificate shall be in such form as may be
required by the host state, and shall contain at least the following:
(A) The generator's name and address;
(B) A description of the contents of the low-level waste container;
(C) A statement that the low-level waste being shipped has been inspected
by the official who issued the certificate or by his agent or by a
representative of the United States nuclear regulatory commission, and
found to have been packaged in compliance with applicable federal
regulations and such additional requirements as may be imposed by the host
state;
(D) A binding agreement by the state of origin to reimburse any party
state for any liability or expense incurred as a result of an accidental
release of such waste during shipment or after such waste reaches the
facility.
(4) Each party state shall cooperate with the other party states in
determining the appropriate site of any facility that might be required within
the region comprised of the party states, in order to maximize public health
and safety while minimizing the use of any one (1) party state as the host of
such facilities on a permanent basis. Each party state further agrees that
decisions regarding low-level waste management facilities in their region will
be reached though a good faith process which takes into account the burdens
borne by each of the party states as well as the benefits each has received.
(5) The party states recognize that the issue of hazardous chemical waste
management is similar in many respects to that of low-level waste management.
Therefore, in consideration of the state of Washington allowing access to its
low-level waste disposal facility by generators in other party states, party
states such as Oregon and Idaho which host hazardous chemical waste disposal
facilities will allow access to such facilities by generators within other
party states. Nothing in this compact shall be construed to prevent any party
state from limiting the nature and type of hazardous chemical or low-level
wastes to be accepted at facilities within its borders or from ordering the
closure of such facilities, so long as such action by a host state is applied
equally to all generators within the region comprised of the party states.
(6) Any host state may establish a schedule of fees and requirements
related to its facility, to assure that closure, perpetual care, and
maintenance and contingency requirements are met, including adequate bonding.

ARTICLE V -- Northwest Low-Level Waste Compact Committee

The governor of each party state shall designate one (1) official of that
state as the person responsible for administration of this compact. The
officials so designated shall together comprise the northwest low-level waste
compact committee. The committee shall meet as required to consider matters
arising under this compact. The parties shall inform the committee of existing
regulations concerning low-level waste management in their states, and shall
afford all parties a reasonable opportunity to review and comment upon any
proposed modifications in such regulations. Notwithstanding any provision of
article IV to the contrary, the committee may enter into arrangements with
states, provinces, individual generators, or regional compact entities outside
the region comprised of the party states for access to facilities on such
terms and conditions as the committee may deem appropriate. However, it shall
require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all such members, including the affirmative
vote of the member of any party state in which a facility affected by such
arrangement is located, for the committee to enter into such arrangement.

ARTICLE VI -- Eligible Parties and Effective Date

(1) Each of the following states is eligible to become a party to this
compact: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and
Wyoming. As to any eligible party, this compact shall become effective upon
enactment into law by that party, but it shall not become initially effective
until enacted into law by two (2) states. Any party state may withdraw from
this compact by enacting a statute repealing its approval.
(2) After the compact has initially taken effect pursuant to paragraph
(1) of this article, any eligible party state may become a party to this
compact by the execution of an executive order by the governor of the state.
Any state which becomes a party in this manner shall cease to be a party upon
the final adjournment of the next general or regular session of its
legislature or July 1, 1983, whichever occurs first, unless the compact has by
then been enacted as a statute by that state.
(3) Paragraph (2) of article IV of this compact shall take effect on July
1, 1983, if consent is given by congress. As provided in public law 96-573,
congress may withdraw its consent to the compact after every five (5) year
period.

ARTICLE VII -- Severability

If any provision of this compact, or its application to any person or
circumstance, is held to be invalid, all other provisions of this compact, and
the application of all of its provisions to all other persons and
circumstances, shall remain valid; and to this end the provisions of this
compact are severable.

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