Current as of: 2009 (a) There is created the Rhode Island – Massachusetts Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management Commission. The Commission shall consist of members from each party state to be appointed according to the procedures of each party state, except that a host state shall have more members during the period that it has an operating regional facility. The Governor of each party state shall notify the Commission, in writing, of the identities of the member or members from that state, and of one alternate for each member, who may act on behalf of the member only in the member's absence. (b) Each Commission member shall be entitled to one vote; except that, when a host state that has a closed regional facility is represented by only one member, that member shall be entitled to two (2) votes, when the Commission is taking action affecting that facility. Except as otherwise provided in this compact, Commission action shall require a majority of the eligible votes of Commission members. A roll call vote shall be required upon request of any member. (c) The Commission shall annually elect, from among its members, a presiding officer and any other officers that it deems appropriate. The Commission may also establish any committees that it deems necessary to carry out its duties and functions. (d) The Commission shall meet at least once a year and shall also meet upon the call of any member. Except as provided in this section, all meetings of the Commission and its committees shall be open to the public. No majority of the members of the Commission, or its committees shall meet in private for the purpose of acting on, or deliberating toward action on, any matter, except as provided in this section. No meeting of the Commission or its committees shall be closed to the public for the purpose of holding an executive session until the Commission or committee has first convened in an open session for which public notice has been given, a majority of the members have voted to go into executive session, a vote of each member has been recorded on a roll call vote and entered into the minutes, and the presiding officer has announced the purpose of the executive session and has stated whether the Commission or committee will reconvene in public after the executive session. An executive session may be held only for the consideration of: (1) Sensitive personnel matters; (2) Sensitive litigation matters, the public disclosure of which would adversely affect the Commission's position relative to sensitive litigation; or (3) Other legal matters where preservation of the attorney-client privilege is essential. Failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall invalidate any actions, hearings or proceedings of the Commission or its committees during that meeting. (e) For each meeting of the Commission or its committees, other than a meeting called in response to a public health, safety or environmental emergency, the Commission shall make a public announcement, at least one week before the meeting, of the time, place, and subject matter of the meeting; whether it is anticipated that any agenda item will require discussion in executive session; and the name and phone number of the official designated by the Commission to respond to requests for information about the meeting. (f) The Commission and its committees shall maintain accurate records of their meetings, recording the date, time, place, members present or absent, and action taken at each meeting. These records shall become public documents; provided, that the record of any executive session may remain secret as long as its publication may defeat the lawful purposes of the executive session, but no longer. Commission and committee meetings, except those held in executive session, may be recorded by any person in attendance by means of a tape recorder or other sonic reproduction device, which does not interfere with the conduct of the meeting. (g) The Commission may appoint, contract for, compensate, or otherwise provide for a limited staff that it determines necessary to carry out its duties and functions. The staff shall serve at the Commission's pleasure irrespective of the civil service, personnel or other merit laws of any of the party states or the federal government and shall be compensated from funds of the Commission. (h) At its annual meeting, the Commission shall adopt an annual line item budget for its operations. The Commission's budget shall be a public document. (i) The Commission established by this section is a body corporate and public, separate and distinct from party states and shall be liable for its own actions on the same basis as the United States may be liable under the Federal Tort Claims Act (28 U.S.C. § 2674). Liabilities of the Commission shall not be deemed liabilities of the party states. Nor shall members of the Commission be personally liable for action taken by them in their official capacity. (j) The Commission shall have the following duties and powers: (1) The Commission shall receive, and act upon, in an adjudicatory proceeding, the application of a non-party state to become an eligible state pursuant to § 23-19.9-8(e). (2) The Commission shall submit an annual report to, and otherwise communicate with, the governor and the presiding officer of each house of the legislature of each party state regarding the activities of the Commission. (3) Upon request of any party state, the Commission shall mediate disputes that arise among the party states regarding the compact. (4) The Commission shall, after consultation with host states, adopt by rule, maintain and implement a regional low-level waste management plan, in accordance with § 23-19.9-6(a). No regional facility shall be developed prior to the completion of a regional low-level waste management plan. (5) The commission shall establish by rule procedures that are necessary to ensure efficient operation and performance of its duties and functions, the orderly gathering and dissemination of information and the protection of the rights of due process of affected persons. (6) In accordance with the procedures and criteria set forth in § 23-19.9-6, the Commission shall act on a party state's application to assume responsibility to host a regional facility within its borders. (7) In accordance with the procedures and criteria stated in § 23-19.9-6, the Commission may select, by a two-thirds ( 2/3) majority of the eligible votes of Commission members, host states for the establishment of needed regional facilities. (8) After December 31, 1986, no person shall deliver low-level waste generated outside the region to a regional facility for management, and no regional facility shall accept low-level waste generated outside the regions, unless the delivery and acceptance are approved by a two-thirds ( 2/3) majority of the eligible votes of Commission members and by the Commission members representing the host state in which the regional facility is located. This approval shall be granted only after the host state and the Commission have made an assessment of the affected facility's capabilities to accept low-level wastes and of relevant environmental, economic, and public health factors. (9) Unless otherwise provided by the Commission, all low-level waste generated within the regions shall be treated, stored for decay, or delivered to a regional facility or other facility licensed to accept low-level waste as of the effective date of this compact. No low-level waste generated within the region shall be exported to any facility outside the region unless the export is approved by a two-thirds ( 2/3) major ________________________________________________________________________
Rhode Island Laws: Radioactive WasteU.S. Code Provisions: Radioactive WasteFederal Regulations: Radioactive Waste
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