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Initiative One, the Radioactive Waste Restrictions Act, ought to be defeated at the polls next Tuesday. KSL takes that position even though we agree with some of the initiative’s main objectives.
The initiative seeks to prevent higher levels of radioactive waste from being dumped in Utah. KSL heartily agrees. Any waste shipped here should be limited to so-called Class A waste, the lowest level.
The initiative would reform regulatory oversight of radioactive waste in Utah. KSL agrees such reforms are long overdue and should be enacted.
The initiative directs that taxes from radioactive waste go toward education, the homeless and other notable needs. This is where the initiative’s goal’s become cloudy and it is why KSL cannot support it.
First, it essentially targets a single business, Envirocare, for the tax. Despite KSL’s misgivings about the Envirocare operation, we feel it is blatantly wrong to single the firm out for such a hefty tax.
Second, the initiative’s proponents claim the tax would raise more than $100 million for the intended causes. KSL believes that figure is inflated and would never be realized.
Our third objection deals with the complexity of the issue. Should citizens in the voting booth be deciding the fate of a 53-page legislative act few of them have read and even fewer understand?
Although KSL, generally, is sympathetic to some of the initiative’s main objectives, we say vote no on Initiative One.
