Planning for management of low-level radioactive waste after 1985

The Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act of 1980, Public Law 96-573, assigned states the responsibility of providing for disposal of low-level radioactive waste (LLW) and envisioned that all states would be capable of handling commercial LLW generated within their borders, individual or through interstate compacts, by 1986. Compacts approved by Congress are authorized to exclude out-of-region waste after that date. Based on the current status of state efforts and the substantial time required to establish new disposal facilities, no new disposal sites will be available by 1986 or for some period thereafter. Experience to date, specific case studies, and the industry trends are discussed