COLUMBIA ? A plant could be built at the Savannah River Site to convert weapons-grade nuclear material into fuel for power plants regardless of Russia's plans under an agreement passed Thursday by a U.S. House committee.

South Carolina agreed in 2002 to accept 34 tons of weapons-grade plutonium at SRS if the U.S. Energy Department built a mixed oxide fuel, or MOX, facility to convert the plutonium into fuel. At the same time, the United States agreed to help fund the construction of a similar MOX plant in Russia, meant to operate on a parallel track with the SRS plant.

Liability issues and Russia's full-funding demands have delayed the construction of both plants, U.S. Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., said in a release Thursday.

Spratt, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said he was concerned South Carolina would get the plutonium without a way of processing it. He said the first draft of the Defense Authorization bill confirmed his fears.

Spratt said the bill, as passed by the committee, now allows the U.S. Energy Department to negotiate with the Russians but ensures South Carolina can move forward on MOX whether the Russians do or not.