32:31-2. Agreement; policy and purpose

The State of New Jersey enacts and enters into the Northeast Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Compact with all jurisdictions legally joining therein, which compact is substantially as follows:

Article I. Policy and Purpose

There is created the Northeast Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Compact. The party states recognize that the Congress has declared that each state is responsible for providing for the availability of capacity, either within or outside its borders, for disposal of low-level radioactive waste generated within its borders, except for waste generated as a result of atomic energy defense activities of the federal government, as defined in the "Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act," Pub. L. 96-573 (42 U.S.C. s. 2021 b. et seq.), hereinafter referred to as "the act," or federal research and development activities. They also recognize that the management of low-level radioactive waste is handled most efficiently on a regional basis. The party states further recognize that the Congress of the United States, by enacting the act has provided for and encouraged the development of regional low-level radioactive waste compacts to manage such waste. The party states recognize that the long-term, safe and efficient management of low-level radioactive waste generated within the region requires that sufficient capacity to manage the waste be properly provided.

In order to promote the health and safety of the region, it is the policy of the party states to: enter into a regional low-level radioactive waste management compact as a means of facilitating an interstate cooperative effort, provide for proper transportation of low-level waste generated in the region, minimize the number of facilities required to effectively and efficiently manage low-level radioactive waste generated in the region, encourage the reduction of the amounts of low-level waste generated in the region, distribute the costs, benefits, and obligations of proper low-level radioactive waste management equitably among the party states, and ensure the environmentally sound and economical management of low-level radioactive waste.

L.1983, c. 329, s. 2, Art. I, eff. Sept. 1, 1983.