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Environment, Energy and Transportation Program

1997 Low-Level Radioactive Waste Brochure

How Does Our State Manage Low-Level Radioactive Waste?

What is Low-Level Radioactive Waste?
Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Membership
Cost of Disposal
More LLRW Information on All States
NCSL Contacts
Acknowledgement

What is Low-Level Radioactive Waste?

Low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) is an end product of many technologies and services that are used every day. Electricity generation at nuclear power plants, industrial manufacturing processes, medical treatments and examinations, and many more research and production processes produce LLRW. The Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act of 1980 encouraged states to share the responsibility of disposing of waste by forming interstate compacts to provide regional disposal. To date, nine regional compacts have been formed one is awaiting congressional approval. Six unaffiliated states have chosen to manage their own waste. Low-level radioactive waste is classified as class A, B or C, according to its volume and radioactivity. Most waste (97 percent) is class A. Class C waste (0.5 percent) of all low-level radioactive waste) necessitates the most stringent disposal requirements.

Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Membership

+ Current host state

* Future host state

Northwest accepts Rocky Mountain Waste as agreed between compacts.

Cost of Disposal

Barnwell-Generators in every state except for North Carolina may dispose of LLRW at the disposal facility in Barnwell, S.C. Disappointed with North Carolina's progress toward establishing a disposal facility for the Southeast Compact, South Carolina refused to except North Carolina's waste beginning in 1995. Generators sending waste to Barnwell are charged according to the weight, density and radioactivity of a waste disposal shipment. Disposal charges were redesigned in 1996 to stabilize the volume of waste received, revenue generated and workforce levels. A $235 per cubic foot tax is applied by the state. Revenues from this tax-earmarked for state education programs-totaled $92 million in fiscal year 1996.

Hanford-Generators in states that belong to the Northwest or Rocky Mountian Compacts may dispose fo LLRW at the Hanford disposal facility in Richland, Washington. Effective May 1, 1997, an average rate of $60 per cubic foot is charged for LLRW disposal at the Hanford. Incorporated into this fee are site access as well as shipment, container, volume and exposure charges. In addition to the base rate, surcharges and fee riders, a tax of $6.50 per cubic foot benefits the host county and the Hanford area economy. The tax generated $767,000 in revenue in 1996.

Envirocare-Generators in every state may dispose of LLRW at the Envirocare facility near Clive, Utah. Envirocare accepts only certain types of class A waste. The disposal facility does not publish a disposal rate schedule. Disposal charges are based on the volume of the shipment, and all surcharges, taxes and fee riders are included in a volume-based charge negotiated for each shipment. The cost generally is less than $100 per cubic foot. The state of Utah receives $2.50 per ton of LLRW disposed of at the facility. The host county receives a percentage of Envirocare's gross revenues-a total of $4.5 million in 1996.

More LLRW information on these states:

Contacts for more information:

L. Cheryl Runyon
Sia Davis
NCSL3/4 Denver
(303) 364-7700

NCSL extends thanks to Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies Company and its National Low-Level Waste Management Program, which provided oversight and funding for this publication through its contract with the U.S. Department of Energy.

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