GOP gubernatorial candidate Jon Huntsman Jr. also came out in formal opposition Friday to Envirocare accepting the waste.

Few disagree the decision on whether to take the waste or not should remain with the state and not the federal government. And if state regulators are in charge, then Utah public policy will play a greater role in those decisions.

"I look at it as somewhat of an ace in the hole," Walker said, adding she hopes it will occur by March or April. "I think then we can determine our own future. But I don't think that's a cure-all because I think you'll find even within the state vastly different opinions so it won't end the debate."

State Rep. Steve Urquhart, R-St. George, who is co-chair of the legislative task force studying waste issues, plans to introduce legislation that would require Envirocare to seek legislative and gubernatorial approval for the Fernald waste or any other waste that has radioactivity in excess of 10,000 picocuries per gram.

Under the current system, Envirocare falls outside the legislative and gubernatorial approval process when it takes wastes regulated by the NRC. And even after the state assumes the regulatory responsibility from the NRC, Envirocare wouldn't need political approval for the uranium mill tailings unless Urquhart's bill wins passage.

"My plan is to clarify that the state of Utah play an important role through legislative and gubernatorial analysis on this," he said. "I don't feel comfortable with the idea of only the waste policy task force taking a look and setting policy for the state. While I think the task force is competent and doing great work, I'm not presumptive to think the legislative task force speaks for the entire Legislature."

Barney doesn't think the legislation is necessary in light of their deal with Bishop.

"It seems there was some concern that this was a federal action slipped backed in the darkness of night that the state was being forced on them by doing this," Barney said. "If state regulators say it can't be done safely than we don't want to do it. We will voluntarily abandon our efforts."

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