Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compacts: Lessons Learned from Theory and Practice

Abstract

The interstate compact as a policy tool has a long history of use in the United States. Yet some observers feel that interstate compacts have never lived up to their potential. Nevertheless, in 1980, the compact was chosen as the policy instrument to solve one of the thorniest environmental policy issues of the decade: the siting of low-level radioactive waste (LLRW) disposal facilities. Drawing from research on interstate compacts and on alliance theory developed in international relations, this article applies five key questions to the case of LLRW: Why do states join compacts? Which compacts will they join: How stable are the compacts? How important are outside factors? What types of situations are compacts most suited to address? It concludes with lessons that should be useful to future policymakers about the use of interstate compacts to solve salient, nationwide policy problems.