The Kansas Senate has given first-round approval to a measure allowing oil and gas drilling companies to spread some waste produced by fracking operations over fields in Kansas.

The move Thursday comes as southern Kansas is experiencing a surge in horizontal drilling involving the hydraulic fracturing technique known as fracking.

The material companies could spread on Kansas fields involve clays, which often have high concentrations of chloride. It’s viewed as a cheaper and more efficient way to get rid of waste created by fracking.

High levels of chloride can damage plants and can also affect the taste of drinking water and make it more corrosive to water pipes.

Senators will take a final vote on the bill, before sending it to a House committee.