This bill extends federal economic assistance payments to communities near the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), a federal facility in New Mexico that stores radioactive waste. Currently, these payments are limited to 14 years, but the bill removes that time restriction and requires payments to continue through whatever year the facility finally closes and stops receiving waste shipments. The legislation affects residents and local governments in Eddy and Lea Counties, New Mexico, which have hosted the facility and its environmental and economic impacts. No specific new funding amount is mentioned in this text, as the bill essentially removes an expiration date from an existing payment program rather than creating new appropriations. This change ensures that communities dealing with WIPP operations will continue receiving federal economic support for the full lifespan of the facility, not just for a fixed 14-year period.
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