New York State Low-Level Radioactive Waste Siting Commission

The State Legislature created the New York State Low-Level Radioactive Waste Siting Commission in 1986 (Chapter 673) under the management of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to provide for the safe disposal of low-level radioactive waste generated within the state. The five-member commission, appointed by the Governor, consists of a geologist, medical doctor, health physicist, professional engineer, and a private citizen designated chairperson. Members are to be competent and knowledgeable concerning low-level radioactive waste; the chairperson appoints an executive director.

The Commission was mandated to select a preferred disposal technology and site for the state's low-level radioactive waste disposal facility. Chapter 673 also required the NYSERDA to establish the facility by January 1, 1993, and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to promulgate regulations containing specific and detailed criteria for siting a low-level waste facility. Thus DEC would establish the criteria, the commission would choose the methodology and the site, and NYSERDA would actually build and operate the facility. Although the regulations were formulated, as of 1995 the commission had not determined either the method by which to dispose of low-level radioactive waste or the site on which the facility will be located.

From the description of Minutes of commission meetings, 1987-1995. (New York State Archives). WorldCat record id: 81401900