§ 13-29-1-1 — Policy and purpose

ARTICLE I. POLICY AND PURPOSE
There is created the Midwest Interstate Low-Level Radioactive
Waste Compact.
The states party to this compact recognize that the Congress of the
United States, by enacting the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy
Act, as amended by the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy
Amendments Act of 1985 (42 U.S.C. 2021b to 42 U.S.C. 2021j), has
provided for and encouraged the development of low-level radioactive
waste compacts as a tool for disposing of such waste. The party states
acknowledge that the Congress declared that each state is responsible
for providing for the availability of capacity either within or outside the
state for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste generated within
its borders, except for waste generated as a result of certain defense
activities of the federal government or federal research and
development activities. The party states also recognize that the disposal
of low-level radioactive waste is handled most efficiently on a regional
basis; and, that the safe and efficient management of low-level
radioactive waste generated within the region requires that sufficient
capacity to dispose of such waste be properly provided.
a. It is the policy of the party states to enter into a regional low-level
radioactive waste disposal compact for the purpose of:
1. Providing the instrument and framework for a cooperative
effort;
2. Providing sufficient facilities for the proper disposal of
low-level radioactive waste generated in the region;
3. Protecting the health and safety of the citizens of the region;
4. Limiting the number of facilities required to effectively and
efficiently dispose of low-level radioactive waste generated in the
region;
5. Encouraging source reduction and the environmentally sound
treatment of waste that is generated to minimize the amount of
waste to be disposed of;
6. Ensuring that the costs, expenses, liabilities, and obligations of
low-level radioactive waste disposal are paid by generators and
other persons who use compact facilities to dispose of their waste;
7. Ensuring that the obligations of low-level radioactive waste
disposal that are the responsibility of the party states are shared
equitably among them;
8. Ensuring that the party states that comply with the terms of this
compact and fulfill their obligations under it share equitably in the
benefits of the successful disposal of low-level radioactive waste;
and
9. Ensuring the environmentally sound, economical, and secure
disposal of low-level radioactive wastes.
b. Implicit in the Congressional consent to this compact is the
expectation by the Congress and the party states that the appropriate
federal agencies will actively assist the Compact Commission and the
individual party states to this compact by:
1. expeditious enforcement of federal rules, regulations and laws;
2. imposition of sanctions against those found to be in violation
of federal rules, regulations and laws; and
3. timely inspection of their licensees to determine their
compliance with these rules, regulations and laws.
[Pre-1996 Recodification Citation: 13-5-9-1.]

Legislative History

As added by P.L.1-1996, SEC.19. Amended by P.L.131-1996, SEC.2.