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Voters rejected Initiative One at the polls last November mainly because of its confusing complexity. The vote, though, must not be interpreted as a green light for the dumping of more and hotter radioactive waste in Utah.
On the contrary, KSL believes lawmakers should move forward expeditiously to prevent so-called Class B and C waste from coming into the state.
With the defeat of Initiative One, the battle over radioactive waste storage now shifts to the legislature. There, support is mounting for creation of a task force to study issues raised by the controversial ballot initiative.
That’s fine! Let lawmakers form their blue-ribbon panel and hear from all sides on the issue. Let them methodically determine how best to deal with a company like Envirocare that stores low-level radioactive waste at its disposal facility in Tooele County. Let them consider how radioactive waste should be taxed. Let them review current and proposed possibilities for regulating the industry. Especially, let them take a serious look at an intriguing proposal to have Utah’s Public Service Commission assume regulatory oversight of Envirocare.
But one key issue doesn’t require further study! Class B and C waste should not be allowed into the state for perpetual storage!
KSL encourages lawmakers to act now, not later, on legislation that would keep the hotter wastes out of Utah.
