INFORMATION ON BARNWELL AND THE S.E. COMPACT

[muw@inel.gov (Mike Winberg)]

Subject: Barnwell and the S.E. Compact                                         
There do not appear to be any legal prohibitions on SC opening the Barnwell 
site for waste nationally. Their primary purpose is to raise revenues and 
avoid on-site storage of LLW in the state. There are no "changes" to the SE 
Compact requiring Congressional approval. SC simply pulled out of the 
compact.  It is doubtful that SC can exclude waste from NC. NC Governor has 
indicated that they will file a legal challenge.  The SC bill calls upon the 
Governor to set up a committee to negotiate a new compact.  However, some 
believe this was done more for internal political consumption.  (If the 
objective is to raise revenue by accepting lots of waste, why enter a 
compact that would limit the amount of waste?)  Contrary to published 
reports, the Barnwell legislation does nothave a 10 year limit, or any time 
limit.                                    

This is the latest information the National Low-Level Waste Management 
Program has on Barwell.

  
                                                                               
Mike Winberg
National Low-Level Waste Management Program
P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID  83415-2420
Voice:  208-526-4042
Fax:    208-526-9165
Email:  muw@inel.gov