Key Issues
Disposal of Low-Level Radioactive Waste
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No Threat to Health or Safety
The radioactive material in low-level waste emits the same types of radiation that everyone receives from nature. Most low-level waste fades away to natural background levels of radioactivity in months or years. Virtually all of it diminishes to natural levels in less than 500 years.
The NRC requires that releases of radiation at a disposal site not exceed an annual dose to any member of the public of 25 millirem to the whole body, 75 millirem to the thyroid, or 25 millirem to any other organ. In comparison, the average American is exposed to about 360 millirem of radiation annually—mostly from natural sources (such as radon) and medical sources (such as X-rays). In practice, public exposures from low-level waste facilities are far lower than the NRC limits.
States’ Responsibility
Responding to pressure from the states of Washington, South Carolina and Nevada to relieve them of the burden of disposing of the entire nation’s low-level radioactive waste, Congress passed the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act of 1980. That law requires every state to provide waste disposal—either alone or in cooperation with other states. The law encourages the formation of regional interstate compacts for waste disposal.
In 1985, because no compacts had yet been ratified or sites selected, Congress amended the act to create siting milestones, deadlines for compliance and penalties for failure to meet the deadlines. It provided that on Jan. 1, 1993, the three states with sites (Washington, South Carolina and Nevada) could refuse to accept low-level waste generated outside their borders by states that are not in their respective compacts. It also required that in January 1996 each state would take title to, possession of and legal responsibility for all low-level waste generated within its borders.
However, in a suit brought by the state of New York challenging the constitutionality of the act, the Supreme Court in June 1992 struck down the “take title” provision as it applies to states that are not members of a compact. The court left fundamentally intact the act’s framework of incentives to encourage development of disposal facilities.
To date, most states have joined one of 10 waste disposal compacts. But some states are not affiliated with a compact.
No Threat to Health or Safety
The radioactive material in low-level waste emits the same types of radiation that everyone receives from nature. Most low-level waste fades away to natural background levels of radioactivity in months or years. Virtually all of it diminishes to natural levels in less than 500 years.
The NRC requires that releases of radiation at a disposal site not exceed an annual dose to any member of the public of 25 millirem to the whole body, 75 millirem to the thyroid, or 25 millirem to any other organ. In comparison, the average American is exposed to about 360 millirem of radiation annually—mostly from natural sources (such as radon) and medical sources (such as X-rays). In practice, public exposures from low-level waste facilities are far lower than the NRC limits.
States’ Responsibility
Responding to pressure from the states of Washington, South Carolina and Nevada to relieve them of the burden of disposing of the entire nation’s low-level radioactive waste, Congress passed the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act of 1980. That law requires every state to provide waste disposal—either alone or in cooperation with other states. The law encourages the formation of regional interstate compacts for waste disposal.
In 1985, because no compacts had yet been ratified or sites selected, Congress amended the act to create siting milestones, deadlines for compliance and penalties for failure to meet the deadlines. It provided that on Jan. 1, 1993, the three states with sites (Washington, South Carolina and Nevada) could refuse to accept low-level waste generated outside their borders by states that are not in their respective compacts. It also required that in January 1996 each state would take title to, possession of and legal responsibility for all low-level waste generated within its borders.
However, in a suit brought by the state of New York challenging the constitutionality of the act, the Supreme Court in June 1992 struck down the “take title” provision as it applies to states that are not members of a compact. The court left fundamentally intact the act’s framework of incentives to encourage development of disposal facilities.
To date, most states have joined one of 10 waste disposal compacts. But some states are not affiliated with a compact.
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