NEWS THAT THE Chem-Nuclear landfill near Barnwell has accepted more potent radioactive waste in the last year is no surprise to anyone familiar with the site’s troubling history. And more is on the way. A retired nuclear reactor from San Onofre, Calif., is headed here, joining similar vessels already here. The event is making national news, cementing our reputation as the state that will accept radioactive waste others do not.

If it strikes you that there must be a closer disposal site for the reactor, you are right. However, a Hanford, Wash., site is open only to states belonging to its regional compact, which does not include California. You may remember regional compacts. We used to belong to one for the Southeast. It fell apart after North Carolina failed in its obligation to be the next regional host.

Numerous entities along the California reactor’s travel route want nothing to do with it. The structure can’t be carried by truck or train, and it is too heavy to navigate the Panama Canal. It will go by sea around the horn of South America. Chem-Nuclear officials say the reactors already buried at the Barnwell site, and the one to come, are no more dangerous than the other waste buried there, things such as medical clothing, equipment from hospitals and cleaning supplies from nuclear facilities. However, environmentalists note that the new waste will take longer to break down.

That’s troubling. However, what troubles us the most about recent events are statements from Chem-Nuclear indicating that it will again try to find a way out of the legal constraints on its operation.

The dump was scheduled to close in 1995, when then-Gov. David Beasley proposed a different tack. He sold lawmakers on a plan to keep the facility open, with its state revenue going for school buildings and scholarships. The income never matched projections; it was a bad deal that has gone worse.

Three years ago, lawmakers agreed to limit capacity at Barnwell, planning to phase out its national role. Beginning in 2008, only South Carolina, Connecticut and New Jersey will be able to use the facility. However, in the past three years, Chem-Nuclear has not received as much waste as legally authorized. The company may ask the Legislature to allow it to make up that lost ground. The carrot being dangled in front of the General Assembly is the promise of 19 million additional dollars for public schools.

This choice is easy. Don’t do it.

We are the first to argue for any sensible revenue increase for schools. But this one isn’t worth the price. South Carolina has fought the battle against its title as the nation’s nuclear dumping ground at least three times already. We don’t need even to crack the door on that one again.