The State : Waste Dumping Pact OKd

The state Senate has approved a pact that would allow Arizona to dispose of low-level radioactive waste at a yet to be created dump in California. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Alfred Alquist (D-San Jose),was sent to the Assembly for final approval. Under the agreement, Arizona could use a California facility for 30 years. After that, Arizona and any other state that joined in would have to host a disposal facility. Arizona has already ratified the agreement, but an attempt to get California to approve it failed last year. Federal law requires states to sign regional agreements to provide for disposal of wastes from such places as hospitals, research facilities and industry. If states do not enter into such agreements they can be barred from using dumps in Nevada, Washington and South Carolina and be required to accept waste from other states.