[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 18, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E120]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


INTRODUCTION OF THE TEXAS LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL COMPACT 
                              CONSENT ACT

                                 ______


                            HON. JACK FIELDS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 18, 1995
  Mr. FIELDS of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce today a 
bill that will be the final step in an agreement between the States of 
Texas, Maine, and Vermont for the disposal of low-level radioactive 
waste.
  In the 1960's, the United States had six disposal sites for low-level 
radioactive waste. By 1978, all but three of the sites had closed, and 
the States with the remaining disposal sites announced that they 
intended to close their facilities. In response, in 1980, Congress 
passed the Low-level Radioactive Waste Policy Act, making State 
governments responsible for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste 
generated within their States. Because most States simply continued to 
send their waste to the three operating disposal sites, the act was 
amended in 1985 to require States to open their own disposal sites or 
enter into agreements--called compacts--to share facilities with other 
States by the end of 1992.
  Mr. Speaker, the compact about which I speak today was carefully 
negotiated by the Governors of each State and adopted by an 
overwhelming majority of each State's legislature. As a result, I urge 
my colleagues to join me in support of the Texas Low-level Radioactive 
Waste Disposal Compact Consent Act.


                          ____________________