From Deseret News archives:

Moving Moab tailings is win-win situation for all

Published: Monday, April 11, 2005 9:21 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
There are very few times, in my estimation, that an exclamation point has any business in a newspaper headline.

But last week, the Moab Times-Independent was justified in its use in a banner headline that heralded: "It's official — DOE: Move the tailings!"

The headline topped a story on the Department of Energy's announcement that it intends to move some 12 million tons of radioactive waste piled dangerously near the Colorado River. The DOE plans to move the uranium mill tailings to a site near Crescent Junction about 30 miles from Moab. The announcement was a major victory for Grand County officials, who have been lobbying the federal government for a decade to move the uranium tailings pile, waste generated from uranium mill operations between 1956 and 1984.

"It's a huge deal. It's a huge deal for Grand County in all kinds of ways," said Grand County Council member Joette Langianese, who lobbied members of Congress and powerful Colorado River users to support the move. Some 25 million people rely on the Colorado River, and anything that impacts its health is of grave concern.

Story continues below
Now that the Department of Energy has announced a plan for relocating the tailings pile, Congress has to come up with a means to pay for it. Langianese says the project has strong allies in Utah Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett, who is on the Senate Appropriations Committee. Downstream, Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., have a vested interest in protecting the millions of people who rely on the Colorado River.

"We recognized from the very beginning that 9,000 people in beautiful Moab, Utah, was not reason enough to allocate $400 million for this project," Langianese said. So Grand County officials and other advocates brought powerful water officials on board.

A February lobbying trip to Washington happened to coincide with a conference of California water districts. "I had every water user in one place at one time. Every one of those folks said, 'We're on it. We're writing letters.' And they did," Langianese said.

As a journalist who has observed public processes for more than two decades, I have often wondered what prompts elected and appointed officials to make the decisions they make. Do they base their decisions on a cold examination of facts and evidence? Are they persuaded by the human face of an issue? Do they respond to a deluge of letters and e-mails from constituents? Does face-to-face lobbying make the difference?

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

It's BEER, not acid people! Some people love having it sprayed on themselves....

I believe Max Hall cemented his legacy tonight with his lack of...

I find it interesting that these comment come after a so-so performance in a...

Hall mouths off about hate of Utah

If you really think BYU is more arrogant than USC or UCLA or so many other...

Cougars honor 1984 champs

cougars baby!!!!!

Cougars beat Utes, 26-23

I have one word for the BYU AND UTAH fans: TCU!!!! hahahaha

Two great examples of lack of class surfaced tonight: Pete Carroll, USC's...

Hall mouths off about hate of Utah

Don't forget my favorite Max stat. 2 out of 3. Yeah, I bet that...

Thanks for the comment Max! I hope you keep on playing just like you have...

Linehan's success no accident

Neat article! (Yes, I'm a little biased :) It's been an exciting time to be...

Advertisements