Federal policy is running on empty when it comes to the disposal of nuclear waste.

Following the 2010 cancellation of a plan to permanently store spent nuclear power plant fuel under Yucca Mountain in Nevada, the federal government has kicked the can way down the road — and into our backyards, potentially leaving it to future generations to find a real solution. That’s why nuclear power plants, even closed ones in Rowe, and Vernon, Vt., must store their high-level radioactive waste indefinitely in dry casks and in fuel pools.

It’s clear, however, that until the federal government comes up with an alternative to Yucca Mountain, towns like Rowe and Vernon need help shouldering costs related to hosting indefinitely highly toxic waste that could contaminate the water, soil and air of entire regions — and which are vulnerable to earthquakes, floods and even terrorism.

The federal government has failed so far to keep its promise to build a permanent, central storage facility that will hold the waste safely for thousands of years. But residents, local officials and at least some members of Congress recognize our government has a responsibility now, even as it ponders the long-term solution.

Rowe town officials reached out to Rep. Richard Neal, D-1st District, who has become one of the co-sponsors of the Interim Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Site Compensation Act of 2016 and now of the Stranded Nuclear Waste Accountability Act. Peter Welch, Vermont’s congressman, is also one of the co-sponsors.

“For me, this was a request from local government, but it’s a national issue,” Neal said recently during a visit to Rowe. “There are decommissioned plants across the country, and I think the federal government is obligated to provide mitigation costs, since many energy plans started with the Department of Energy.”

If Congress passes this bill, Rowe and 12 other communities would receive $15 per kilogram of spent nuclear fuel hosted. That would give Rowe $1 million for the 127 metric tons of spent fuel in concrete casks at the 1,800-acre site of the Yankee Atomic power plant, decommissioned in 2007.

The Stranded Nuclear Waste Accountability Act seems one way to get the federal government to honor the spirit of its commitment to establish a permanent storage facility for nuclear waste, expressed in the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1983.

The House and then Senate should shoulder their current responsibilities and pass this bill.