2021 Tennessee Code
Part 7 - Southeast Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact
§ 68-202-701. Text of Compact

By this part, Tennessee shall become a party to the southeast interstate low-level radioactive waste compact in accordance with the terms of the compact. “Compact” means the southeast interstate low-level radioactive waste compact. The compact is as follows:
Article I. Policy and Purpose
There is hereby created the southeast interstate low-level radioactive waste compact.
The party states recognize and declare 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 defense activities of the federal government 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 Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act, P.L. 96-573, compiled in 42 U.S.C. §§ 2021b-2021d, has provided for and encouraged the development of low-level radioactive waste compacts as a tool for disposal of such waste. The party states recognize 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.
It is the policy of the party states to: enter into a regional low-level radioactive waste management compact for the purpose of providing the instrument and framework for a cooperative effort, provide sufficient facilities for the proper management of low-level radioactive waste generated in the region, promote the health and safety of the region, limit 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 successful low-level radioactive waste management equitably among the party states, and ensure the ecological and economical management of low-level radioactive wastes.
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:
Article II. Definitions
As used in this compact, unless the context clearly requires a different construction:
Article III. Rights and Obligations
The rights granted to the party states by this compact are additional to the rights enjoyed by sovereign states, and nothing in this compact shall be construed to infringe upon, limit or abridge those rights.
Article IV. The Commission
provided, that each host state collecting such fees or surcharges may retain a portion of the collection sufficient to cover its administrative costs of collection, and that the remainder be sufficient only to cover the approved annual budgets of the commission;
Must be sufficient to cover the annual budget of the commission;
Must represent the financial commitments of all party states to the commission; and
Must be paid to the commission;
Article V. Development and Operation of Facilities
Article VI. Other Laws and Regulations
Article VII. Eligible Parties, Withdrawal, Revocation, Entry into Force, Termination
Article VIII. Penalties
Article IX. Severability and Construction
The provisions of this compact shall be severable and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any participating state or of the United States or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If any provision of this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of any state participating therein, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters. The provisions of this compact shall be liberally construed to give effect to the purposes thereof.

Structure 2021 Tennessee Code