HOUSTON (AP) - A Texas commission will guarantee Vermont 20 percent capacity in a nuclear dump should it approve a plan to allow 36 states to bring low-level radioactive waste to a site in West Texas.
The Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission approved the space for Vermont on Tuesday. The commission is expected to vote on the entire plan later Tuesday.
Environmental groups oppose expanding the dump in Andrews County, which currently only accepts waste from Texas, Vermont and the federal government.
Dallas-based Waste Control Specialists owns the dump. The company says the facility is a secure option for permanent disposal.
Waste Control spokesman Chuck McDonald says Vermont wants the guaranteed space because the state plans to phase out one facility in the next 30 to 40 years.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
