As soon as next month, Texas will likely begin accepting low-level radioactive waste from 38 states at a dump near the New Mexico border, making it the country's first new such dump in 30 years.

A Dallas-based company majority-owned by big-time political donor Harold Simmons has been fighting for years to win permission from Texas officials to accept the waste. Opponents say the firm, Waste Control Specialists, has benefited from Simmons' connections to top Republicans, including Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

The state commission that oversees disposal of low-level waste is expected to approve the final necessary rule changes Friday after state lawmakers cleared the way with a new law during the last legislative session. State regulators still need to approve construction of the burial site.

Environmental groups have been voicing concerns about the site's geology, the potential for contamination of underground water sources and the dangers of transporting waste on the state's highways.

In 2009, Texas issued the company two licenses to bury low-level radioactive waste. One license relates to an agreement between Texas and Vermont to allow for disposal of radioactive materials such as uranium, thorium and plutonium from commercial power plants, medical schools and academic institutions. Last year, lawmakers extended the compact to allow the acceptance of waste from 36 other states. The second license deals with similar materials from sites run by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Simmons is listed as the world's 100th-wealthiest man on this year's Forbes list and has given $1.1 million to Perry's campaigns during his time as governor. The governor appoints environmental commissioners (AP/FuelFix, March 19). -- AS