Proxmire wants to give states A-waste controls

Sen. William Proxmire (D) of Wisconsin said he will introduce legislation that would allow states to prohibit the federal government from dumping nuclear wastes within their borders and guarantee them more control over federal shipments of nuclear waste passing through them.

Senator Proxmire noted that although the US government is responsible for the disposal of nuclear waste, states can be "stuck with the mess" that would result from radiation exposure while in transit or after dumping. He advocates giving each state "an absolute veto" over waste and storage sites the government might want to place within its borders.