B, C waste were the big land issue

The environmental issue that promised to generate most heat this legislative session — a ban on importing B and C radioactive wastes — ended up sailing through in a love fest among lawmakers, activists and the governor.

But other bills that drew less attention also were important, including measures concerning land-use planning, archaeology and atomic testing. Environmental highlights of the Legislature include:

• The non-battle over banning B and C radioactive waste, material considered low-level but "hotter" than the Class A disposed by Envirocare of Utah in its Tooele County facility. An interim committee had refused to recommend banning importation, with members pointing out that Envirocare had permit applications pending and a ban might subject Utah to a lawsuit.

Then Envirocare's new owners announced they would abandon the application. Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and leaders of both houses and both parties convened a press conference to call for passage of SB24, the bill to ban importation. It passed overwhelmingly.

One reason may be the strong public support for the bill.

An astounding 86 percent of Utahns surveyed between Jan. 31 and Feb. 3 opposed disposing of B and C waste in Utah, according to Deseret Morning News-KSL-TV poll.

Pollster Dan Jones & Associates found that among 406 interviewees, 80 percent said they were "strongly opposed" to allowing B and C waste into Utah. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percent.

• State Land Use Management Plans Amendments. With final passage on Tuesday, HB264 establishes state policy when dealing with the federal government on federal land.

The state will strive to maintain "in perpetuity a high-level output" of minerals and renewable resources on public land. Other goals are to "support valid existing transportation, mineral, and grazing privileges and the highest reasonably sustainable level." The act says managing federal land not actually designated by Congress as wilderness, in order to preserve wilderness characteristics, is inconsistent with multiple-use standards.

• HB239 passed both houses, setting up the "Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office" and the "Public Lands Policy Coordinating Council." Appointed by the governor, the coordinator would help develop positions regarding land use.