From Deseret News archives:
Reid isn't backing plan to block Utah N-waste
He is still fighting to keep material at power plants
"He is opposed to legislating the wilderness area on the defense bill," said spokeswoman Tessa Hafen.
The wilderness language, sponsored by Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, is regarded as Utah's last, best chance to block the storage of 44,000 tons of nuclear waste in above-ground canisters.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is poised to rule later this summer on a recommendation by the quasi-judicial Atomic Safety and Licensing Board that Private Fuel Storage, a consortium of nuclear power utilities, be granted a license to store spent nuclear fuel in Utah for up to 40 years.
With the NRC signaling its willingness to grant the license, the delegation has focused much of its efforts on trying to persuade the Department of Interior to reject the PFS lease with the Skull Valley band of Goshutes and to deny approval for PFS to build a rail spur needed to transport the waste to the storage site.
Bishop's language would declare those same federal lands needed for the rail spur to be wilderness and therefore off-limits to a new rail line.
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, is more confident the wilderness language will pass this year, pointing out there are two important differences between this year's attempt and the one that failed to make it out of conference committee last year. First, the Bishop language is part of the House version of the bill, whereas last year the Utah delegation was trying to get it added during the conference committee.
That means the issue is part of the debate and it becomes much more difficult for the Senate to take it out.
Comments
- Two American pilots die in Iraq 12:47 a.m.
- Murder suspect is vetran, avid skier 12:47 a.m.
- MLB: Zambrano's mom kidnapped 12:32 a.m.
- Lambert surprisingly tops news 12:25 a.m.
- Philadelphia transit strike ends 12:25 a.m.
- TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd 12:24 a.m.
- 12 high schools ready for 'The Turf' 12:17 a.m.
- RSL unfazed by conference final 12:17 a.m.
- Korver and Miles to be evaluated 12:17 a.m.
- Today on TV 12:13 a.m.
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
216 - House passes health care bill
201 - Lobo suspended
173 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
151 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
129 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - Thousands protest health bill
102 - Provo company innovating engines
101 - Utes pound winless Lobos
89 - BYU cuts Women's Research Institute
88
Why do so many people live so close to refineries in Utah and elsewhere?
NASA's Stardust probe continues to bring new knowledge about the nature...
STOP blaming the Democrats, BLAME THE REPUBLICANS FOR 8 YEARS DOING NOTHING...
The best way to break the law is to become someone who enforces the law.
It's a real shame so many folks have never gotten out and gotten to know the...
It's all talk... you do not have any evidence for your claims. You assume...
Maybe if you could bat .408 in the major leagues, you too would be paid a...
I prefer the “Wizard of Earthsea” quartet by Ursula Le Guin, an...
The bottom line question that no one can possibly answer is; what will be the...
It looks to me like special treatment.
Jazz will have a tough week, with what should be a easy win against the...
I am very excited for this game. As much as I want the Utes to win, it won't...



You can be the first to comment on this story.