Southeast Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact Amendments Consent Act of 1989
PL 101-171 (H.R.2642), enacted 11/22/1989

PUBLIC LAW 101-171—NOV. 22, 1989 
103 STAT. 1289 
Public Law 101-171 
101st Congress 
An Act 
Granting the consent of the Congress to amendments to the Southeast Interstate 
Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Compact. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the "Southeast Interstate Low-Level 
Radioactive Waste Compact Amendments Consent Act of 1989". 
SEC. 2. CONSENT OF CONGRESS TO AMENDMENTS TO COMPACT. 
Congress consents to the amendments to the Southeast Interstate 
Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Compact made by party 
states to such Compact. Such amendments are substantially as 
follows: 
At the end of article 5 add the following new section: 
"E. No party state shall be required to operate a regional facility 
for longer than a 20-year period, or to dispose of more than 
32,000,000 cubic feet of low-level radioactive waste, whichever first 
occurs.". 
Article 7 is amended by striking out sections G and H and 
inserting in lieu thereof the following: 
"G. Subject to the provisions of Article 7 Section H., any party 
state may withdraw from the compact by enacting a law repealing 
the compact, provided that if a regional facility is located within 
such state, such regional facility shall remain available to the region 
for four years after the date the Commission receives verification in 
writing from the Governor of such party state of the rescission of the 
Compact. The Commission, upon receipt of the verification, shall as 
soon as practicable provide copies of such verification to the Gov-
ernor, the Presidents of the Senates, and the Speakers of the Houses 
of Representatives of the party states as well as the chairmen of the 
appropriate committees of the Congress. 
"H. The right of a party state to withdraw pursuant to section G. 
shall terminate thirty days following the commencement of oper-
ation of the second host state disposal facility. Thereafter a party 
state may withdraw only with the unanimous approval of the 
Commission and with the consent of Congress. For purposes of this 
section, the low-level radioactive waste disposal facility located in 
Barnwell County, South Carolina shall be considered the first host 
state disposal facility. 
Nov. 22, 1989 
[H.R. 2642] 
Southeast 
Interstate 
Lovf-Level 
Radioactive 
Waste Compact 
Amendments 
Consent Act of 
1989. 
42 u s e 2021d 
note. 
42 u s e 2021d 
note. 
South Carolina. 
103 STAT. 1290 
PUBLIC LAW 101-171—NOV. 22, 1989 
"I. This compact may be terminated only by the affirmative action 
of the Congress or by rescission of all laws enacting the compact in 
each party state.". 
Approved November 22, 1989. 
' 'i 
'.'t 
. -Ji.i. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2642 (S. 1563): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 101-238, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Interior and Insular Affairs) and 
Pt. 2 (Comm. on Energy and Commerce). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 135 (1989): 
Oct. 30, considered and passed House. 
Nov. 3, S. 1563 considered and passed Senate. 
Nov. 9, H.R. 2642 considered and passed Senate.