Economics of disposal at future disposal facilities

Passage of the Low-Level Waste Policy Act of 1980 clearly leaves the responsibility for the disposal of low-level (radioactive) waste (LLW) at the doorstep of the state capitol of the state of origin. Fortunately, this does not mean that the future will see each state operating its own LLW disposal facility. The provision for regional compacts specifically provides that states may work together to solve the problem of waste disposal. As is the case with many political solutions to problems, the Low-Level Waste Policy Act does not address economics nor was the cost of disposal a factor in the debate leading to ultimate passage of the act. Also, with the passage of the Low-Level Waste Policy Act Amendment of 1985, significant surcharges will be experienced by generators in regions not yet providing their own LLW disposal. The generators of these wastes are seriously asking questions as to the future costs of disposal. While a comprehensive study of future costs must await detailed disposal facility design, some estimates can be made based on the volume of waste generated in a compact region and on the conceptual design of the facility. It is the purpose of this paper to present some ofmore » these estimates for the regions that seem to be establishing fairly fixed political boundaries.« less