American West isn't a toilet for dumping nuclear waste

I'm really not bitter about any of this. Everyone has hardships in life. Everyone dies some time. Enjoy life while it lasts. My health, and that of my remaining siblings, seems fine, short of me needing to lose 20 pounds. I don't obsess about getting sick.

I believe we're a lot smarter today about the dangers of radiation. I believe the federal government is very thorough in its safety requirements. But you might understand why I am opposed to storage of high-level nuclear waste out on the west desert. And why I oppose any form of further nuclear weapons testing in Nevada. For me, as with a lot of other downwinders, it's kinda personal.

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Republican LaVarr Webb was policy deputy to Gov. Mike Leavitt and Deseret News managing editor. He now is a political consultant and lobbyist. E-mail: lwebb@exoro.com. Democrat Frank Pignanelli is Salt Lake attorney, lobbyist and political adviser. A former candidate for Salt Lake mayor, Pignanelli served 10 years in the Utah House of Representatives, six years as House minority leader. E-mail: frankp@xmission.com.