Hotter-waste bill awaits Envirocare announcement

Lawmakers could consider the issue of banning hotter nuclear waste from Utah as early as next week.

SB24, a bill dealing with other hazardous waste issues, was given preliminary approval by the Senate Monday by a vote of 26-0-3. But its sponsor, Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, said he intended to delay final consideration of the bill so "major modifications" can be made.

Those modifications are related to an expected announcement from the new buyers of Envirocare that they will withdraw the company's application to import so-called Class B and C wastes in addition the lower-level Class A material already allowed.

Lawmakers had balked at calling for a legal ban on the hotter waste, fearing a lawsuit. Envirocare, the state's only disposal facility licensed to handle radioactive waste, has spent a considerable amount of money pursuing a permit for the hotter waste.

But if the application for the permit is withdrawn, the Legislature would be able to consider the ban without worrying about the state being sued. Company officials have declined to comment.

Last week, Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. alluded to the situation in his State of the State speech, telling Utahns that "by the time this legislative session is finished, we should no longer be discussing the possibility of B and C waste entering the state."

Bramble stopped short Monday of referring to the Envirocare permit directly, but said the question facing lawmakers is how best to deal with B and C wastes and that "the best mechanism is to do that statutorily. . . . I think we'll have that resolved next week."

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