EnergySolutions Bill Becomes Law
None by KCPW
Governor Takes More Steps to Control Nuke Waste in Utah
(KCPW News) Governor Jon Huntsman Junior chose the course of "no action" last night, opting to let a controversial bill involving radioactive waste disposal company EnergySolutions go into effect without his signature. But the Governor has also pledged to limit the waste EnergySolutions can dispose of at its Utah facility. Spokesman Mike Mower says the move aligns with Huntsman's promise to keep Utah from becoming the nation's nuclear dumping ground.Senate Bill 155 lets EnergySolutions make changes to its existing waste permit with approval from state regulators, but not the Governor or Legislature. Huntsman believes the company has that right based on the actions of previous Governors. But Mower says Huntsman is disappointed lawmakers haven't done more to restrict waste in Utah, so he's asking the regional governing body for nuclear waste to limit any new volume of waste coming to Utah.
State Director of Environmental Quality Dianne Nielsen says that could hamper a pending request from EnergySolutions to pile waste higher at its existing site.
Anti-nuclear activist group HEAL-Utah says Huntsman has quote "turned a deaf ear" to the one-thousand people who called his office asking for a veto.
Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom, Legislative Coverage, and 2007 Legislative Coverage. Copyright 2008 KCPW
1. Archie Phillips said:
It's amazing to see how something as simple as a name change (and a few bucks here and there) has thrust the most terrible business in the state into prominence. Energy Solutions name is all over the place. And, they seem to be getting everything they want. It's too bad there isn't a truth in advertising presence in Utah. Their name should be Spent Energy Pollution.
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