Senate OKs bill to end waste disposal compact

AUGUSTA – A bill to remove Maine from a three-state low-level radioactive waste disposal compact on Thursday was right back where it started: on Gov. Angus King’s desk.

The Senate gave its final approval to the bill, LD 2171, Wednesday and sent it to the governor. Because King submitted the legislation, he is expected to sign it into law. It would take effect immediately.

The King administration said the compact to send waste to Texas was agreed upon when the Maine Yankee atomic plant, which was the state’s largest generator of low-level nuclear waste, was still operating.

The administration also said Maine has found facilities in South Carolina and Utah where it can send its low-level waste. Vermont was also part of the Texas compact.

Texas environmental officials have rejected an application to build a waste facility in their state.