U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto says she has reached an agreement with Energy Secretary Rick Perry over the removal of weapons-grade plutonium from Nevada. 

The Las Vegas Review Journal first reported the agreement on Tuesday. 

It says the deal was reached during a phone call - the half metric ton plutonium already here would be removed from Nevada starting in 2021. 

Cortez Masto says she also got assurances from Sec. Perry that no future shipments will come from South Carolina.

The Energy Department last year was ordered by a federal court in South Carolina to move one metric ton of weapons-grade plutonium out of the Savannah River Site.

On January 30, Nevada received notice from the U.S. Dept. of Energy revealing that it had already shipped half a metric ton of plutonium to Nevada. 

As a result of the announced deal, she says she would lift her hold on all Department of Energy nominees.

“Today I’ve released my holds on all pending Department of Energy nominees following an agreement with the Department of Energy that the Department will commence the removal of the weapons-grade plutonium that was secretly shipped to Nevada beginning in 2021. Along with Governor Sisolak, Nevada Attorney General Ford, Senator Rosen and our federal delegation, I’m proud to have fought to secure an agreement from Secretary Perry that the Department of Energy will meet any future statutory requirements for plutonium from South Carolina by shipping that plutonium directly to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico. Nevadans didn’t create this waste and we shouldn’t be on the hook for storing it in our state against our will. While I thank Secretary Perry for working with me on this issue, make no mistake that we will have additional fights ahead of us. I’ll continue to do all I can to hold the Department of Energy accountable, and ensure we fight against any attempt to ship nuclear waste to our state. In May, I look forward to continuing this dialogue with Secretary Perry and NNSA Administrator Gordon-Hagerty to ensure Nevadans are heard and this administration respects their will.”