WISCASSET, Maine (AP)   Wiscasset would collect more than $8 million for storing radioactive waste from Maine Yankee under a proposal in Congress.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois are sponsoring the proposal that would provide financial relief to communities stuck with nuclear waste.

Maine Yankee ceased operations in 1996 after the company’s board opted to close the nuclear power plant rather than invest in costly improvements.

The federal government has failed to live up to its obligation for a building repository for highly radioactive waste. That means sixty-four containers of highly radioactive fuel rods continue to be stored indefinitely on the site.