The day of decision is near for Maria Mendez and the West Texas town of Sierra Blanca. She and a dozen other West Texans who are opposed to construction of a low-level radioactive waste dump near their town, some 90 miles southeast of El Paso, have been in Washington over the last week to lobby against passage of the compact. The House approved the deal in July, leaving only Senate ratification before congressional action is concluded. Senate debate was expected to begin today, with a vote tonight or Wednesday. Mrs. Mendez, who is co-chair of the Sierra Blanca Legal Defense Fund, holds out little hope of success.
Compact supporters note that the deal is silent on the future dump's location.
The Sierra Blanca activists, they say, should take their case up with Bush and the Texas Legislature, which long ago selected the Hudspeth County site. Congress already has approved nine other compacts covering 41 states. Lackey said Monday. Wellstone, who has delayed Senate action on the agreement in recent years, has used every parliamentary tool at his disposal, his spokesman says. Ms. Chavez and other dump opponents met Monday with a White House official, urging a veto if the compact legislation hits President Clinton's desk.