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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A coalition against nuclear waste storage is fighting a proposal to study putting the waste on state trust lands by targeting lawmakers.
"Plan B" legislation, sponsored by Rep. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, would supplant a plan by Skull Valley Goshutes and Private Fuel Storage to store the waste on Goshute land. Urquhart says nuclear waste storage in Utah is inevitable, and that his plan would raise money for schools.
The NO! coalition, which claims to represent 14,000 people and is backed by Gov. Mike Leavitt, says that a proposed nuclear waste storage "Plan B" is a breach in the state's front against accepting high-level waste.
"This is like handing out the retreat plan before we go in," said Frank Suitter, NO! co-chairman.
The coalition said meeting with legislators and providing fact sheets would go a long way to winning over those now backing "Plan B." Other ideas included peppering lawmakers with phone calls and sending a message that nuclear waste is anti-family and a bad way to help Utah children.
"Honestly," said Leavitt, "I think armed with the facts, (the lawmakers) won't do it."
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
