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SALT LAKE CITY -- Advocates in favor of keeping foreign radioactive waste out of Utah say now is not the time for Utah to make a lucrative deal with EnergySolutions.
The question at issue: should Utah re-examine a proposal to split profits with the company that runs a radioactive waste site, if the state drops its opposition to importing foreign waste? One watchdog group says not so fast, but it is a debate that has been reignited.
The proposal first came up at the start of the year. Now it's back again, mostly due to two things: one, a key court decision; and two, we have a new governor.
The week Gov. Huntsman was tapped as U.S. ambassador to China, radioactive waste disposal company EnergySolutions won a federal court ruling allowing it to accept low-level waste from foreign countries.
An advertisement from EnergySolutions says, "Utah is one of the greatest places in the world to live, and EnergySolutions wants to keep it that way..."
Now the company is renewing an offer it spelled out in ads earlier this year to split profits 50-50 if the state drops opposition to accepting that waste.
In a statement, the company says, "We have had a settlement offer out there since the beginning of the year. We have let the new administration know that our offer is still on the table. There are no new settlement terms being proposed or negotiated."
One top lawmaker suggests it may be time to take a fresh look at the deal, which the company says could mean a billion dollars to the state over 10 years.
Watchdog group HEAL Utah disagrees.
Executive director Vanessa Pierce said, "If Gov. Herbert agrees to make a settlement with EnergySolutions and withdraws from this lawsuit, our right to have a say over nuclear waste policy is going to be significantly compromised."
The company's biggest roadblock for years was Gov. Huntsman, who opposed EnergySolutions and its predecessor's plans to import foreign waste and expand.
In November 2005 he said, "No. N-O, this is our soil, it is our sovereignty, it's our image and reputation. I don't care who knocks on my door, who tries to twist my arm. I'll do what I think is right."
In May, governor-to-be Herbert said he had no plans to change anything Huntsman had done regarding EnergySolutions.
He said, "There's not going to be any big shake up, any big changes."
Today, a spokesperson for the governor says his posiition on this issue has not changed.
In the meantime, Congress could jump into the fray and decide to ban imports of foreign waste, in part to protect disposal capacity in the U.S. for waste generated in the U.S.
E-mail: jdaley@ksl.com
