An Act granting the consent of Congress to the Southern Interstate Nuclear Compact, and for related purposes.
PL 87-563 (H.R.10618), enacted 07/31/1962

76 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-563-JULY 31, 1962 
249 
Public Law 87-563 
Granting the consent of Congress to the Southern Interstate Nuclear Compact, —LJ—: 
L 
AN A C T 
July 31, 1962 
to the Southern Ii 
and for related purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That it is hereby 
southern inter-
declared to be the national policy to encourage and recognize the pg^^ ^"'=^*^'" ^°™" 
performance of functions by the States with respect to the peaceful 
consent o
f con-
use of nuclear energy in its several forms. 
The Federal Government ^'*^^' 
recognizes that many programs in nuclear fields can benefit from 
cooperation among the States, as well as between the Federal Govern-
ment and the States. The importance of the interstate compact as 
one means for promoting such cooperation is hereby declared as part 
of the intention of Congress, already expressed in part in Public 
Law 86-373, to facilitate the use of State jurisdiction in and over 
73 stat. ess. 
portions of the development and regulatory nuclear field. 
SEC. 2. The Congress hereby consents to the Southern Interstate 
Nuclear Compact, which compact is as follows: 
42 u s e 2021. 
u 
ARTICLE I. POLICY AND PURPOSE 
"The party states recognize that the proper employment of nuclear 
energy, facilities, materials, and products can assist substantially in 
the industrialization of the South and the development of a balanced 
economy for the region. 
They also recognize that optimum benefit 
from and acquisition of nuclear resources and facilities requires sys-
tematic encouragement, guidance, and assistance from the party states 
on a cooperative basis. It is the policy of the party states to under-
take such cooperation on a continuing basis; it is the purpose of this 
compact to provide the instruments and framework for such a coopera-
tive effort to improve the economy of the South and contribute to the 
individual and community well-being of the region's people. 
(( 
ARTICLE II. THE BOARD 
"(a) There is hereby created an agency of the party states to be 
known as the 'Southern Interstate Nuclear Board' (hereinafter called 
"Southern inter-
the Board). 
The Board shall be composed of one member from each |*oari!'»"'^*^' 
party state designated or appointed in accordance with the law of 
the state which he represents and serving and subject to removal in 
accordance with such law. Any member of the Board may provide 
composition, 
for the discharge of his duties and the performance of his functions powers, etc. 
thereon (either for the duration of his membership or for any lesser 
period of time) by a deputy or assistant, if the laws of his state make 
specific provisions therefor. 
The federal government may be repre- 
Post, p. 254. 
sented without vote if provision is made by federal law for such 
representation. 
"(b) The Board members of the party states shall each be entitled 
to one vote on the Board. No action of the Board shall be binding 
unless taken at a meeting at which a majority of all members repre-
senting the party states are present and unless a majority of the total 
number of votes on the Board are cast in favor thereof. 
" (c) The Board shall have a seal. 
"(d) The Board shall elect annually, from among its members, a 
chairman, a vice chairman, and a treasurer. The Board shall appoint 
an Executive Director who shall serve at its pleasure and who shall 
also act as Secretary, and who, together with the Treasurer, shall be 
bonded in such amounts as the Board may require. 
250 
PUBLIC LAW 87-563-JULY 31, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
" (e) Tlie Executive Director, with the approval of the Board, shall 
appoint and remove or discharge such personnel as may be necessary 
for the performance of the Board's functions irrespective of the civil 
service, pei-sonnel or other merit system laws of any of the party states. 
"(f) The Board may establish and maintain, independently or in 
conjunction with any one or more of the party states, a suitable retire-
ment system for its full-time employees. Employees of the Board 
shall be eligible for social security coverage in respect of old age and 
survivors insurance provided that the Board takes such steps as may 
be necessary pursuant to federal law to participate in such program 
of insurance as a governmental agency or unit. 
The Board may 
establish and maintain or participate m such additional programs 
of employee benefits as may be appropriate. 
"(g) The Board may borrow, accept, or contract for the services 
of personnel from any state or the United States or any subdivision 
or agency thereof, from any interstate agency, or from any institu-
tion, person, firm or corporation. 
"(h) The Board may accept for any of its purposes and functions 
under this compact any and all donations, and grants of money, equip-
ment, supplies, materials, and services (conditional or otherwise) from 
any state or the United States or any subdivision or agency thereof, 
or interstate agency, or from any institution, person, firm, or corpo-
ration, and may receive, utilize, and dispose of the same. 
"(i) The Board may establish and maintain such facilities as may 
be necessary for the transacting of its business. 
The Board may 
acquire, hold, and convey real and personal property and any interest 
therein. 
"(j) The Board shall adopt bylaws, rules, and regulations for the 
conduct of its business, and shall have the power to amend and rescind 
these bylaws, rules, and regulations. 
The Board shall publish its 
bylaws, rules, and regulations in convenient form and shall file a copy 
thereof, and shall also file a copy of any amendment thereto, with 
the appropriate agency or officer in each of the party states. 
Reports. 
"(k) The Board annually shall make to the governor of each party 
Post, p. 254. 
state, a report covering the activities of the Board for the preceding 
year, and embodying such recommendations as may have been 
adopted by the Board, which report shall be transmitted to the legis-
lature of said state. The Board may issue such additional reports as 
it may deem desirable. 
u 
ARTICI^ III. FINANCES 
"(a) The Board shall submit to the executive head or designated 
officer or officers of each party state a budget of its estimated expendi-
tures for such period as may be required by the laws of that jurisdic-
tion for presentation to the legislature thereof. 
"(b) Each of the Board's budgets of estimated expenditures shall 
contain specific recommendations of the amount or amounts to be 
appropriated by each of the party states. One half of the total 
amount of each budget of estimated expenditures shall be apportioned 
among the party states in equal shares; one quarter of each such 
budget shall be apportioned among the party states in accordance with 
tlie ratio of their populations to the total population of the entire 
group of party states based on the last decennial federal census; and 
one quarter of each such budget shall be apportioned among the party 
states on the basis of the relative average per capita income of the 
inhabitants in each of the party states based on the latest computations 
published by the federal census-taking agency. 
Subject to appropri-
ation by their respective legislatures, the Board shall be provided with 
76 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-563-JULY 31, 1962 
251 
such funds by each of the party states as are, necessary to provide the 
means of establishing and maintaining facilities, a staff of personnel, 
and such activities as may be necessary to fulfill the powers and duties 
imposed upon and entrusted to the Board. 
' (c) The Board may meet any of its obligations in whole or in part 
Avith funds available to it under Article I I (h) of this compact, 
provided that the Board takes specific action setting aside such funds 
prior to the incurring of any obligation to be met in whole or in part 
in this manner. 
Except where the Board makes use of funds available 
to it under Article II (h) hereof, the Board shall not incur any 
obligation prior to the allotment of funds by the party jurisdictions 
adequate to meet the same. 
"(d) Any expenses and any other costs for each member of the 
Board in attending Board meetings shall be met by the Board. 
"(e) The Board shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and 
disbursements. 
The receipts and disbursements of the Board shall 
be subject to the audit and accounting procedures established under its 
bylaws. However, all receipts and disbursements of funds handled 
by the Board shall be audited yearly by a qualified public accountant 
and the report of the audit shall be included in and become part of 
the annual report of the Board. 
"(f) The accounts of the Board shall be open at any reasonable 
time for inspection. 
" A R T I C L E IV. ADVISORY COMMITTEES 
"The Board may establish such advisory and technical committees 
as it may deem necessary, membership on which to include but not 
be limited to private citizens, expert and lay personnel, representatives 
of industry, labor, commerce, agriculture, civic associations, medicine, 
education, voluntary health agencies, and officials of local. State and 
Federal Government, and may cooperate with and use the services of 
any such committees and the organizations which they represent in 
furthering any of its activities under this compact. 
"ARTICLE V. POWERS 
"The Board shall have power to— 
" (a) ascertain and analyze on a continuing basis the position of 
the South with respect to nuclear and related industries. 
"(b) encourage the development and use of nuclear energy, 
facilities, installations, and products as part of a balanced 
economy. 
"(c) collect, correlate, and disseminate information relating to 
civilian uses of nuclear energy, materials, and products, 
"(d) conduct, or cooperate in conducting, programs of training 
for State and local personnel engaged in any aspect of— 
" (1) Nuclear industry, medicine, or education or the pro-
motion or regulation thereof. 
"(2) The formulation or administration of measures de-
signed to promote safety in any matter related to the develop-
ment, use or disposal of nuclear energy, materials, products, 
installations, or wastes. 
"(e) Organize and conduct, or assist and cooperate in organiz-
ing and conducting, demonstrations of nuclear product, material, 
or equipment use and disposal and of proper techniques or 
processes for the application of nuclear resources to the civilian 
economy or general welfare. 
252 
PUBLIC LAW 87-563-JULY 31, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
"(f) Undertake such non-regulatory functions with respect to 
non-nuclear sources of radiation as may promote the economic 
development and general welfare of the region. 
"(g) Study industrial, health, safety, and other standards, 
laws, codes, rules, regulations, and administrative practices in or 
related to nuclear fields. 
"(h) Eecommend such changes in, or amendments or addi-
tions to the laws, codes, rules, regulations, administrative proce-
dures and practices or ordinances of the party states in any of 
the fields of its interest and competence as in its judgment may 
be appropriate. Any such recommendation shall be made through 
the appropriate state agency with due consideration of the desir-
ability of uniformity but shall also give appropriate weight to 
any special circumstances which may justify variations to meet 
local conditions. 
"(i) Prepare, publish and distribute (with or without charge) 
such reports, bulletins, newsletters or other material as it deems 
appropriate. 
"(j) Cooperate with the Atomic Energy Commission or any 
agency successor thereto, any other officer or agency of the United 
States, and any other governmental unit or agency or officer 
thereof, and with any private persons or agencies in any of the 
fields of its interests. 
"(k) Act as licensee of the United States Government or any 
party state with respect to the conduct of any research activity 
requiring such license and operate such research facility or under-
take any program pursuant thereto. 
"(1) Ascertain from time to time such methods, practices, cir-
cumstances, and conditions as may bring about the prevention 
and control of nuclear incidents in the area comprising the party 
states, to coordinate the nuclear incident prevention and control 
plans and the work relating thereto of the appropriate agencies 
of the party states and to facilitate the rendering of aid by the 
party states to each other in coping with nuclear mcidents. The 
Board may formulate and, in accordance with need from time to 
time, revise a regional plan or regional plans for coping with 
nuclear incidents within the territory of the party states as a 
whole or within any subregion or subregions of the geographic 
area covered by this compact. 
(( 
ARItlCLE VI. SUPPLEMENTARY AGREEMENTS 
"(a) To the extent that the Board has not undertaken an activity or 
project which would be within its power under the provisions of 
Article V of this compact, any two or more of the party states (acting 
by their duly constituted administrative officials) may enter into 
supplementary agreements for the undertaking and continuance of 
such an activity or project. 
Any such agreement shall specify its 
])urpose or purposes; its duration and the procedure for termination 
thereof or withdrawal therefrom; the method of financing and allo-
cating the costs of the activity or project; and such other matters as 
may be necessary or appropriate. 
No sucli supplementary agreement 
entered into pursuant to this article shall become effective prior to its 
submission to and approval by the Board. 
The Board shall give such 
approval unless it finds that the supplementary agreement or the 
activity or project contemplated thereoy is inconsistent with the pro-
visions of this compact or a program or activity conducted by or 
participated in by the Board. 
76 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 87-563-JULY 31, 1962 
253 
"(b) Unless all of the party states participate in a supplementary 
agreement, any cost or costs thereof shall be borne separately by the 
states party thereto. However, the Board may administer or other-
wise assist in the operation of any supplementary agreement. 
"(c) No party to a supplementary agreement entered into pursuant 
to this article shall be relieved thereby of any obligation or duty 
assumed by said party state under or pursuant to this compact, except 
that timely and proper performance of such obligation or duty by 
means of the supplementary agreement may be offered as performance 
pursuant to the compact. 
u 
ARTICLE VII. OTHER LAWS AND RELATIONS 
"Nothing in this compact shall be construed to— 
"(a) Permit or require any person or other entity to avoid 
or refuse compliance with any law, rule, regulation, order or 
ordinance of a party state or subdivision thereof now or hereafter 
made, enacted or in force. 
"(b) Limit, diminish, or otherwise impair jurisdiction exercised 
by the Atomic Energy Commission, any agency successor thereto, 
or any other federal department, agency or officer pursuant to 
and in conformity with any valid and operative act of Congress. 
"(c) Alter the relations between and respective internal re-
sponsibilities of the government of a party state and its subdivi-
sions. 
"(d) Permit or authorize the Board to exercise any regulatory 
authority or to own or operate any nuclear reactor for the gen-
eration of electric energy; nor shall the Board own or operate any 
facility or installation for industrial or commercial purposes. 
ARTICLE VIII. ELIGIBLE PARTIES, ENTRY INTO FORCE AND WITHDRAWAL 
"(a) Any or all of the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, 
Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North 
Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and 
West Virginia shall be eligible to become party to this compa,ct. 
"(b) As to any eligible party state, this compact shall become effec-
tive when its legislature shall have enacted the same into law: provided 
that it shall not become initially effective until enacted into law by 
seven states. 
" (c) Any party state may withdraw from this compact by enacting 
a statute repealing the same, but no such withdrawal shall become 
effective until the governor of the withdrawing state shall have sent 
formal notice in writing to the governor of each other party state 
informing said governors of the action of the legislature in repealing 
the compact and declaring an intention to withdraw. 
(( 
" A R T I C L E IX. SEVERABILITY AND CONSTRUCTION 
"The provisions of this compact and of any supplementary agree-
ment entered into hereunder shall be severable and if any phrase, 
clause, sentence or provision of this compact or such supplementary 
agreement is declared to be contrary to the constitution of any par-
ticipating 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 or such supplementary 
agreement and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, 
person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. 
If this compact 
or any supplementary agreement entered into hereunder shall be held 
254 
PUBLIC LAW 87-564-JULY 31, 1962 
[76 STAT. 
Representative 
of Federal Govern-
ment on Board. 
Agency cooper-
ation. 
Reports, copies 
to President and 
Congre)ss. 
Consent, exten-
sion. 
contrary to the constitution of any state participating therein, the 
compact or such supplementary agreement shall remain in full force 
and effect as to the remaining states and in full force and effect as to 
the state affected as to all severable matters. 
The provisions of this 
compact and of any supplementary agreement entered into pursuant 
hereto shall be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes thereof." 
SEC. 3. Pursuant to article I I (a) of the Southern Interstate Nuclear 
Compact, there shall be one representative of the Federal Government 
on the Southern Interstate Nuclear Board. The representative shall 
be appointed by the President and he shall report to the President 
either directly or through such agency or official as the President may 
specify. His compensation shall be in such amount not in excess of 
$100 per diem, as the President shall specify, but the total amount of 
compensation payable in any one calendar year shall not exceed 
$15,000: Provided^ That if the representative be an employee of the 
United States, he shall serve without additional compensation. 
The 
compensation, travel expenses, office space, stenographic, and adminis-
trative services of the representative shall be paid from any available 
appropriations selected by the head of such agency or agencies as 
may be designated by the President to provide such expenses. 
SEC. 4. The Atomic Energy Commission; the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration; the Secretary of Health, Education, and 
Welfare; the Secretary of Commerce; the Secretary of Labor; the 
Secretary of Agriculture; and the heads of other departments and 
agencies of the Federal Government are authorized, within available 
appropriations and pursuant to law, to cooperate with the Southern 
Interstate Nuclear Board. 
SEC. 5. Copies of the annual reports made by the Southern Inter-
state Nuclear Board pursuant to article II(k) of the Southern Inter-
state Nuclear Compact shall be transmitted to the President and to 
the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy of the Congress. 
SEC. 6. The consent to the Southern Nuclear Compact given by 
this Act shall extend to any and all supplementary agreements entered 
into pursuant to article VI of such Compact: Provided^ That any 
such supplementary agreement is only for the exercise of one or 
more of the powers conferred upon the Southern Interstate Nuclear 
Board by article V of such compact. 
SEC. 7. The right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act is expressly 
reserved. 
SEC. 8. The right is hereby reserved to the Congress or any of its 
standing committees to require the disclosure and furnishing of such 
information or data by the Southern Interstate Nuclear Board as is 
deemed appropriate by the Congress or any such Committee. 
Approved July 31, 1962. 
July 31, 1962 
[H. J. Res. 839] 
Ante. p. 126. 
Public Law 87-564 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
Making continuing appropriations for tlie fiscal year 1963, and for otlier purposes. 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the United 
States of America in Congress assemhled, That clause (c) of section 
102 of the joint resolution of July 1, 1962 (Public Law 87-513), is 
hereby amended by striking out "July 31,1962" and inserting in lieu 
thereof "August 31, 1962". 
Approved July 31, 1962.