A dump being constructed in Texas could soon begin accepting radioactive waste from nuclear reactors all over the country. The dump has been plagued over the last eight years by charges of corruption by regulators and undue influence by the dump’s owner, Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons, who is the second largest all-time contributor to Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

The dump is sited dangerously close to the Ogallala Aquifer – the largest freshwater aquifer in the country. This one aquifer provides water to nearly a quarter of the nation’s irrigated land and to millions of people who live in the 8 states under which the aquifer sits.

Like Wall Street bankers and big oil, Harold Simmons has used campaign contributions to put the risks on taxpayers while hoarding the profits for himself. His company, Waste Control Specialists LLC, will only need to provide financial assurance on the site for $100 million. While this may sound like a lot, clean-ups at other commercial radioactive waste dumps have garnered price tags in the billions of dollars.

Given the radioactive disaster unfolding in Japan, the US is rightly beginning to reassess its own radioactive risks. Radioactive waste is a major threat to the natural environment, as well as to the health and safety of the public.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has heard many of these allegations but has so far refused to take action. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee should push the NRC to fully investigate claims that the Texas dump and its licensing process have not lived up to federal standards.Tell Senators Barbara Boxer and Harry Reid that the NRC needs to take these allegations seriously and that the Senate EPW Committee should launch an inquiry into the commission’s handling of this issue.