JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri House sent Gov. Mike Kehoe legislation Monday aimed at expanding testing for radioactive waste in the St. Louis area.

On a unanimous vote, the House removed a $150,000 annual cap on the state’s Radioactive Waste Investigative Fund, which was developed to allow cities and towns to address possible contamination in their communities.

Rep. Tricia Byrnes, R-Wentzville, said the measure was a bipartisan effort.

“The people of Missouri really win when we care about their kids and care about their families, Byrnes said.

Rep. Doug Clemens, D-St. Ann, said the prevalence of cancers in his community near nuclear dumping sites is not a coincidence.

“We played our part in World War II. This weapons project left waste behind. That waste is incredibly harmful,” Clemens said.

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“This has been a long time coming,” said Rep. Raychel Proudie, D-Ferguson.

The measure, which previously was approved in the Senate, was sponsored by Rep. Mark Matthiesen, R-O’Fallon, in response to contamination caused by efforts to bring an end to World War II using nuclear weapons.

The fund was created in 2018, but former Gov. Mike Parson did not allocate money for the testing.

The St. Louis region has long grappled with a legacy of nuclear waste on multiple fronts.

State environmental regulators recently said there is a “high probability of radiological materials” buried in the Bridgeton Landfill.

There also is radioactive waste in the nearby West Lake Landfill.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced in February it had expanded by 40 acres a West Lake remediation zone after discovering contamination spread wider than previously known, the Missouri Independent reported .

Efforts by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to clean up radioactive waste in Coldwater Creek in St. Louis County are expected to last until 2038. The suburban waterway was contaminated after World War II when radioactive waste was stored at a site at St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

The measure awaiting Kehoe’s signature removes a previous requirement in the law that a local government make a written request to the state for a specific area of concern before an investigation can be initiated. Instead, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources will be able to determine the selection and priority of investigative sites.

The bill would allow the agency to use information from local governments, individuals and historic data to determine where an investigation may be needed.

In addition, the measure gives the DNR the ability to access government-owned property if contaminants are suspected in the area.

If the suspected contaminants are on private property, the department must have the owner’s permission to enter and test.

The measure says money in the fund shall not be used for any costs associated with cleanup efforts. The fund may also accept contributions from donors.

The investigation also may include the collection of soil, dust and water samples from the specified area.

The legislation is Hous e Bill 516, Ho us e Bill 290, an d House Bill 778.