Karras, Huntsman scowl at N-waste

Utah's years-long heated battles over nuclear waste won't be ending anytime soon.

Both Republican candidates for governor are opposed to a plan to temporarily store high-level nuclear waste on the Skull Valley Band of Goshute Indian Reservation. And neither one of them wants to see radioactive-waste giant Envirocare of Utah allowed to dump "hotter" low-level radioactive waste than what its current license allows at its landfill in remote Tooele County.

"I strongly oppose any hazardous or radioactive waste of a higher degree of toxicity allowed into Utah storage facilities," Jon Huntsman Jr. said in response to a Deseret Morning News questionnaire posted on the Web site, www.deseretnews.com.

State regulators have given approval to Envirocare for a license to take so-called "Class B and C waste," which are primarily by-products of decommissioned power plants and thousands of times hotter in radioactivity than what is now at Envirocare. But the company must also receive the Legislature's and governor's blessing. A task force of lawmakers studying the issue are recommending the 2005 Legislature not to allow Envirocare to take the waste.

But it's not the death knell; the governor has the final say. Gov. Olene Walker and her predecessor, Mike Leavitt, opposed Envirocare's plan.

It appears the gubernatorial candidates are as well.

"No, I oppose allowing any further hotter waste to be stored in Utah," Nolan Karras said, without further comment.

Envirocare officials are disappointed but not surprised.

"It's a little disappointing," said Tim Barney, senior vice president of Envirocare. "We'll continue to educate them on the advantages and that there is no health and safety issues."

Tooele County leaders have expressed concern about Huntsman's position on the matter.

In a recent letter to Huntsman, Tooele County Commissioners and lawmakers representing Tooele, said prohibiting Class B and C low-level radioactive waste could have a significant impact on Tooele County's economy.

The letter was in response to comments Huntsman's running mate, Gary Herbert, said on a radio talk show.

Environmentalists have entered the fray to make sure Huntsman doesn't change his mind.

"We urge you to maintain your commitment to keep higher-levels of nuclear waste out of Utah," Jason Groenewold of Health Environment Alliance of Utah (HEAL) wrote to Huntsman and Herbert.

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E-mail: donna@desnews.com