N-waste stance puzzling

Criticism raised by officials from Tooele County against candidates who want to ban hotter waste is not surprising given their love for all things nuclear ("Tooele leaders send Huntsman a warning," June 13).

In the 1980s, Tooele County established the Hazardous Waste Industries Zone to encourage nuclear and toxic waste facilities to locate within the county. It also cut a deal with Private Fuel Storage (PFS) to provide fire, police and emergency response services for the proposed high-level nuclear waste storage site in Skull Valley in exchange for $90-$300 million.

The criticism raised by Sen. Ron Allen, D-Stansbury Park, is especially curious. Allen attacked Republicans during the most recent legislative session for passing "message bills" that he asserted would negatively impact the image of the state. Apparently he doesn't care about the negative impact that dumping higher levels of nuclear waste in Utah could have.

Polls commissioned by the Deseret Morning News and KSL have shown that 84 percent of Utahns are against hotter waste being dumped in Utah. A survey commissioned by Tooele County commissioners showed 57 percent of Tooele residents are concerned about the presence of hazardous waste facilities in the west desert. Instead of attacking candidates who want to keep these dangerous wastes out of Utah, maybe they should re-evaluate whose interests they really represent.

Jason Groenewold

director, HEAL Utah