The U.S. House Commerce Committee has passed HR 629 approving an agreement by Vermont, Texas and Maine to dispose of low-level nuclear waste at a site in Texas.
The bill, if approved by the full House, would create the nation's tenth low-level waste disposal compact. The proposal already has the support of the various governors and state legislators. Vermont and Maine each would pay $25 million to ship out the low-level waste, which would include materials from nuclear utilities.
The proposed site lies in West Texas, about 90 miles east of El Paso. U.S. representatives from near the site believe the area is unsuitable due to possible earthquakes and proximity to Mexico.
Forty-one states belong to nine waste disposal compacts.
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