He also spoke briefly about choosing to give his annual speech outside of Salt Lake City. Usually, it's delivered in the state Capitol, but it is closed for renovations. The reason Huntsman was in Fillmore, however, has more to do with his family's roots and his effort to reach out to rural Utah.

The waste statement also brought applause from Jason Groenewold, director of HEAL (Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah). He called the governor's statements encouraging but still wonders why Huntsman hasn't signed an executive order to that effect.

"What I'm concerned about is that in 45 days, if the Legislature doesn't take formal action, and the governor hasn't issued an executive order . . . then the issue is going to be the monkey on Utah's back for centuries to come," he said.

Envirocare, a western desert firm licensed to handle low-level Class A radioactive waste, has an application pending to import "hotter" B and C wastes, which it says it has not pursued in years. The company is being sold; Huntsman chief of staff Jason Chaffetz told the Deseret Morning News Class B and C wastes prohibition would be done with the agreement and understanding of the new owners.

Envirocare senior vice president Tim Barney said the company respects the governor's positions, which were made clear during Huntsman's campaign.