INTRO: State Senator Mike Gibbons proposed legislation to prevent Missouri from becoming a nuclear waste pipeline. In Jefferson City, Hayley Salvo has more.
Senate Pro-tem Mike Gibbon's bill would levy a tax on vehicles carrying radioactive waste on Missouri highways. Gibbons says if Missouri doesn't implement fees similar to those charged in Iowa, the state could become a nuclear waste pipeline.
"Shippers have a choice going across interstate 80 through Iowa or 70 through Missouri that at this point it'd be a financial advantage for them to ship it through Missouri."
The money from the tax would be used to train escort vehicles and emergency response teams in the event of a spill.
From the state capitol, I'm Hayley Salvo.
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INTRO: Nuclear waste making its way cross country often ends up on Missouri highways, but the state is taking action to lessen that number. From the state capitol, Hayley Salvo has more.
Senate Pro-tem Mike Gibbons proposed legislation to levy a tax on vehicles carrying radioactive waste through the state.
Missouri is currently the prefered route for waste transport vehicles avoiding fees to cross Iowa state lines.
Deputy Director for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Floyd Gilzow says to ensure safety, waste vehicles should be escorted through the state.
"But if an accident were to occur it might be sometime before anyone who has the proper training gets on site. We want to make sure that there's an escort behind that truck to make sure that additional problems don't develop because of that."
The proposed tax would be similar to those charged in Iowa.
The money, which could reach up to $2,000 dollars per vehicle, would be used to train escort vehicles and emergency response teams in the event of a spill.
In Jefferson City, I'm Hayley Salvo.
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INTRO: As the nation's nuclear waste makes its way cross country, much of it could be transported on Missouri highways. In Jefferson City, Hayley Salvo has more.
Senate Pro-tem Mike Gibbons proposed legislation to tax vehicles carrying radioactive waste across state lines.
The fee would be comparable to those currently charged in Iowa.
Deputy Director of Missouri's Department of Natural Resourses Floyd Gizlow says the measure will prevent Missouri from becoming a nuclear pipline.
Gizlow also says vehicles carrying radioactive waste are a threat to Missouri's environment.
"We don't want to become the nuclear pipeline for the rest of the country and we want to make sure that when this goes across it's done safely."
The money raised from the proposed tax would be used to train vehicle escort and prepare emergency response teams in the event of a spill.
From the state capitol, I'm Hayley Salvo.