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The defeat of Initiative One on Election Day must not be interpreted as a green light for the dumping of more and hotter radioactive waste in Utah
The Radioactive Waste Restrictions Act was too complex to be decided at the ballot box. That’s mainly why KSL opposed it. It is largely why wise Utah voters overwhelmingly rejected the measure.
Still, Initiative One set forth a number of worthy objectives that ought to be pursued with vigor.
Foremost, Utah should not allow "hotter" radioactive waste than is currently accepted to be stored in Utah. Future attempts by Envirocare or any other entity to seek approval for so-called Class B and C waste should be rejected.
Secondly, taxes imposed on low-level Class A radioactive waste coming to Utah for disposal ought to be on the high side of industry standards. Lawmakers should move ahead expeditiously to evaluate current taxation levels and make adjustments without delay.
Finally, lawmakers need to enact reforms that would prevent employees of state regulatory agencies from accepting jobs for a reasonable period of time within industries they regulate. Such action would reduce the potential for impropriety.
It is time for lawmakers to do what they should have done before their inaction spawned the well-intentioned citizens initiative: they should vigorously address the key issues raised by Initiative One.
