STATE COMPACTS

Forty-one states have joined compacts to dispose of low-level radioactive waste, which is shifting from federal to state responsibility on Jan. 1, 1993. So far, only California and Texas have picked actual sites for repositories.

Jurisdictions that have not joined compacts and have no plans for their own repositories are Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, South Dakota, North Dakota, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Each designated host state is usually the prime generator of low-level wastes in its compact.

Southwest

California is the host state with a preferred site in the Mojave Desert near Needles. Arizona is the other compact member.

Northwest

Washington is host state and will continue operating its Richland repository, one of three commercial sites now in operation in the country. Member states are Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Utah.

Rocky Mountains

Nevada will accept wastes until 1993 at its Beatty site, which is now a commercial repository. Colorado will be the new host, but no site has been picked. Other members are New Mexico and Wyoming.

Central

Nebraska is the host state and has narrowed site selection to three counties. Members are Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.

Midwest

Michigan is the host state, but no site has been chosen. Members are Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Central Midwest

Illinois is host state, and site selection has been narrowed to two counties. Kentucky is a compact member.

Southeast

South Carolina will accept wastes until 1993 at Barnwell, which is now a commercial repository. North Carolina will be the new host, but no site has been picked. Other members are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia.

Appalachia

Pennsylvania is the host state, but no site has been selected. Other members are Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia.

Northeast

Connecticut and New Jersey are members and each will build a repository. No sites have been picked.

Unaffiliated

Texas, New York, Massachusetts and Maine plan to build separate repositories. Texas has a preferred site in the Chihuahua Desert in Hudspeth County, although a lawsuit has been filed to block it.

Source: Associated Press