From Deseret News archives:
Tooele leaders send Huntsman a warning
Their concerns focus on waste ban amendment
In a June 10 letter to gubernatorial candidate Jon Huntsman Jr., eight elected officials cautioned that even proposing a constitutional amendment to prohibit Class B and Class C low-level radioactive waste from the state could have significant impacts on Tooele County, where the Envirocare radioactive waste landfill is located.
The officials, including all three county commissioners, five legislators who represent portions of the county and the director of the Tooele County Chamber of Commerce, said the letter was in response to comments made by Huntsman's running mate, Gary Herbert, on a radio talk show.
"We are deeply concerned that your campaign is attempting to leverage an issue into political gain that would directly damage the economic well-being of a rural county . . . without even attempting to first learn the facts," the officials wrote.
The leaders urged Huntsman to allow the "unfettered opportunities of individual businesses" to continue without the government interference that a constitutional amendment would create. They also caution against following the advice of groups which may not have the majority interest in mind.
"Calling for selectively imposing restrictions on businesses because of the perception of negativism spread by a few vocal activists . . . is anti-business, anti-Tooele County and anti-Utah," the letter reads. "We would hope that you, as a possible future governor, would not favor the idea of circumventing the legislative process by leaning towards an initiative type of government."
Huntsman is facing fellow Republican Nolan Karras in a June 22 primary for the GOP nomination.
Huntsman's campaign manager, Jason Chaffetz, said that while Herbert did mention a constitutional amendment as one tool that could be used to stop the "hotter" nuclear waste, it is not a proposal that has been solidified. Instead, it is simply one of many ideas to achieve the ultimate goal of stopping the waste from coming to the state.
"It's something we've been looking at, something we're considering," Chaffetz said. Huntsman "has consistently been on the record as saying that he's opposed to the hotter waste."
Huntsman and Herbert, who as a Utah County commissioner has developed a good relationship with Tooele County commissioners, will both talk to the county leaders about the issue before making any actual proposals, Chaffetz said. Yet while the economic impact on Tooele is one part of the discussion, there are many other factors, including health issues and the economic impact on the entire state if Class B and C waste is accepted.
Economic impacts "are one of the considerations, but not the overriding consideration," he said. "It's bad on many fronts. It's bad for our image, and it's bad for our desire to keep Hill Air Force Base."
Karras did not receive a letter from Tooele representatives. Steve Sparks, Karras' campaign manager, said that while they do oppose hotter nuclear waste, they would not get involved in any disputes between their opponent and county officials.
"It's an issue between the people of Tooele, and particularly Envirocare, and the Huntsman campaign," Sparks said. "Obviously, it's something that has upset them, but it is between the people who sent the letter Huntsman."
E-mail: jloftin@desnews.com
