Environment, Energy and Transportation Program

Hazardous and Radioactive Materials

Updated May 2005

Program Overview

The State Role in Regulation of Hazardous and Radioactive Materials

Since nuclear weapons production began in the early 1940s, numerous forms of nuclear waste have been generated. Although the true nature of the waste being created was unknown, much of it was stored inappropriately on-site at the Deparment of Energy facilities. As use of nuclear energy became more common, the spent fuel generated during energy production was stored at the reactor sites. In the 1950s the National Academy of Sciences recommended deep geologic disposal of the long-lived, highly radioactive wastes from nuclear reactors.

Throughout the 1970s, the federal government screened sites for a repository, specifically looking at buried salt deposits and federal nuclear facility sites. With the congressional enactment of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act in 1982 real progress was made in identifying potential sites for the repository. It also was in 1982 that the federal government assumed responsibility for the ultimate disposal of spent nuclear fuel. When the NWPA was amended in 1987, the Yucca Mountain site was identified as the sole site to be characterized for the nation's geologic repository.

With the official presidential designation of Yucca Mountain and subsequent approval by Congress in 2002, states have had to acknowledge and address the implications of the siting of the repository. Of all the issues associated with housing the nation's high-level waste and spent nuclear fuel at one facility, the one of greatest interest to the states is the transportation of the waste to its final resting place. States want to ensure that transporation is carried out in a safe and secure manner to ensure the health and safety of their communities. But because the repository is to begin accepting waste in 2010 at the earliest, states also have to consider the issues associated with the interim storage of spent nuclear fuel.

Radioactive Materials Legislative Database

The NCSL Radioactive Materials Legislative Database
allows you to search for legislation from 1999 to the
present related to radioactive waste, hazardous waste,
spent nuclear fuel, nuclear materials and associated issues.

Publications

  Radioactive Waste News - A bi-monthly summary of generation, transportation, storage and disposal issues.

  High-Level Radioactive Waste Newsletter - A newsletter published from January 1998 through April 1999 focused on the issue of high-level radioactive waste.

  NCSL Publications

NCSL High-Level Radioactive Waste and Transportation Working Group

Mission Statement

It is the goal of the High-Level Waste Working Group to gather information about the interim storage, transportation and disposal of spent fuel from commercial nuclear power plants, as well as other high-level radioactive wastes, and to share that information with fellow legislators to aid them in making informed public policy decisions relating to these issues. The group will work with the U.S. Department of Energy, other appropriate federal agencies, state and local jurisdictions and interested parties to accomplish its mission. It will issue reports and other documents as appropriate.

Although the working group does not make policy for the National Conference of State Legislatures on these issues, individual members can use the information gathered at the meeting to propose, review and comment on policy for NCSL's Assembly on Federal Issues committees, which do create NCSL policy. In addition, members if the working group serve as a resource for their constituents and their fellow legislators around the country who seek balanced information about these issues.

Current Members List - View a roster of current members of NCSL's High-Level Radioactive Waste and Transportation Working Group. View a map of member States.

Meeting Documents - Access agendas and available presentations from past meetings of the NCSL High-Level Radioactive Waste and Transportation Working Group.

Meeting Archives

State Resources

Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc.- A non-profit organization of individuals that regulate and control the use of radioactive material and radiation sources.

Miswestern Radioactive Material Transportation Project - A joint venture between CSG Midwest and the U.S. DOE assisting the Midwestern state governments in learning about and providing input to the DOE on its plan for shipping radioactive materials through the region.

Southern States Energy Board High-Level Radioactive Waste Committee- An advisory committee composed of gubernaorially appointed state emergency response planners, radiological health professionals and other knowledge officials to address issues associated with the transportation of nuclear waste through the south.

Western Interstate Energy Board High-Level Radioactive Waste Committee - The Western Governors Associations' committee that provided input to the U.S. DOE on the development of a comprehensive transportation safety program for shipments to a national high-level radioactive waste reposityory.

National Resources

The U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board- An independent agency of the U.S. Government who's sole purpse is to provide independent scientific and technical oversight of the U.S. program for management and disposal of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel from civilian nuclear power plants.

DOE - Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management- A program of the U.S. DOE assigned to develop and manage a federal system for disposing of spent nuclear fuel from commercial nuclear reactors and high-level radioactive waste from national defense activities.

Nuclear Energy Institute- The policy organization of the nuclear energy and technologies industry that participates in both the national and global policy making process.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission- An independent agency established by the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 to regulate civilian use of nuclear materials. The NRC is headed by a five member commission.

Staff Contacts
Sia Davis
Linda Sikkema
Kimberly Lohr

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