The Board shall have power to —
(1) Encourage and promote cooperation among the party states in the development and utilization of nuclear and related technologies and their application to industry and other fields.
(2) Ascertain and analyze on a continuing basis the position of the West with respect to the employment in industry of nuclear and related scientific findings and technologies.
(3) Encourage the development and use of scientific advances and discoveries in nuclear facilities, energy, materials, products, by-products, and all other appropriate adaptations of scientific and technological advances and discoveries.
(4) Collect, correlate, and disseminate information relating to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, materials, and products, and other products and processes resulting from the application of related science and technology.
(5) Encourage the development and use of nuclear energy, facilities, installations, and products as part of a balanced economy.
(6) Conduct, or cooperate in conducting, programs of training for state and local personnel engaged in any aspects of: Nuclear industry, medicine, or education, or the promotion or regulation thereof.
(7) Applying nuclear scientific advances or discoveries, and any industrial commercial or other processes resulting therefrom.
(8) The formulation or administration of measures designed to promote safety in any matter related to the development, use or disposal of nuclear energy, materials, products, by-products, installations, or wastes, or to safety in the production, use and disposal of any other substances peculiarly related thereto.
(9) Organize and conduct, or assist and cooperate in organizing and conducting, demonstrations or research in any of the scientific, technological or industrial fields to which this compact relates.
(10) Undertake such nonregulatory functions with respect to non-nuclear sources of radiation as may promote the economic development and general welfare of the West.
(11) Study industrial, health, safety, and other standards, laws, codes, rules, regulations, and administrative practices in or related to nuclear fields.
(12) Recommend such changes in, or amendments or additions to the laws, codes, rules, regulations, administrative procedures and practices or local laws or ordinances of the party states of their subdivisions in nuclear and related fields, as in its judgment may be appropriate. Any such recommendations shall be made through the appropriate state agency, with due consideration of the desirability of uniformity but shall also give appropriate weight to any special circumstances which may justify variations to meet local conditions.
(13) Consider and make recommendations designed to facilitate the transportation of nuclear equipment, materials, products, by-products, wastes, and any other nuclear or related substances, in such manner and under such conditions as will make their availability or disposal practicable on an economic and efficient basis.
(14) Consider and make recommendations with respect to the assumption of and protection against liability actually or potentially incurred in any phase of operations in nuclear and related fields.
(15) Advise and consult with the federal government concerning the common position of the party states or assist party states with regard to individual problems where appropriate in respect to nuclear and related fields.
(16) Cooperate with the Atomic Energy Commission, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Office of Science and Technology, or any agencies successor thereto, any other officer or agency of the United States, and any other governmental unit or agency or officer thereof, and with any private persons or agencies in any of the fields of its interest.
(17) Act as licensee, contractor or sub-contractor of the United States Government or any party state with respect to the conduct of any research activity requiring such license or contract and operate such research facility or undertake any program pursuant thereto, provided that this power shall be exercised only in connection with the implementation of one or more other powers conferred upon the Board by this compact.
(18) Prepare, publish and distribute (with or without charge) such reports, bulletins, newsletters or other materials as it deems appropriate.
(19) Ascertain from time to time such methods, practices, circumstances, and conditions as may bring about the prevention and control of nuclear incidents in the area comprising the party states, to coordinate the nuclear incident prevention and control plans and the work relating thereto of the appropriate agencies of the party states and to facilitate the rendering of aid by the party states to each other in coping with nuclear incidents.
(20) Prepare, maintain, and implement a regional plan or regional plans for carrying out the duties, powers, or functions conferred upon the Board by this compact.
(21) Undertake responsibilities imposed or necessarily involved with regional participation pursuant to such cooperative programs of the federal government as are useful in connection with the fields covered by this compact.
The Board may formulate and, in accordance with need from time to time, revise a regional plan or regional plans for coping with nuclear incidents within the territory of the party states as a whole or within any subregion or subregions of the geographic area covered by this compact.
Any nuclear incident plan in force pursuant to this paragraph shall designate the official or agency in each party state covered by the plan who shall coordinate requests for aid pursuant to Article VI of this compact and the furnishing of aid in response thereto.
Unless the party states concerned expressly otherwise agree, the Board shall not administer the summoning and dispatching of aid, but this function shall be undertaken directly by the designated agencies and officers of the party states. However, the plan or plans of the Board in force pursuant to this paragraph shall provide for reports to the Board concerning the occurrence of nuclear incidents and the requests for aid on account thereof, together with summaries of the actual working and effectiveness of mutual aid in particular instances.
From time to time, the Board shall analyze the information gathered from reports of aid pursuant to Article VI and such other instances of mutual aid as may have come to its attention, so that experience in the rendering of such aid may be available.