PFS deal not done

Yes, Private Fuel Storage LLC has a license to operate an above-ground nuclear waste disposal facility in Utah's western desert.

Yes, PFS has invested nearly a decade of time, energy and money working toward its ultimate goal — establishing a temporary disposal site for a consortium of privately held nuclear power plants.

But contrary to PFS Chairman John Parkyn's statements during a recent Nuclear Regulatory Commission conference that "there is hope for our future," Parkyn surely understands that Utah is not done fighting this proposal. Not by a long shot.

Although PFS has jumped through all of the necessary hoops to obtain a license from the NRC and has staved off a number of challenges during the licensing process, it also has been dealt blows in Congress and by investors who have pulled out of the deal. While Parkyn may pooh-pooh the recent creation of the Cedar Hills Wilderness Area, approved by President Bush in January, the fact remains the United State is a nation at war. Providing federal protection to land adjacent to the Utah Test and Training Range is a matter of national security. Fighter jets in training, some of them carrying live ordnance, and above-ground nuclear waste storage should not mix.

Moreover, the wilderness designation protects the 100,000 acres adjacent to the test and training range from motorized vehicles, roads, mining and other intrusions. This acreage includes a portion of BLM land that PFS wants to use as part of its railroad to its proposed disposal site. Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, says including the BLM land in the wilderness area cuts off that transportation option.

Even Parkyn admits the wilderness designation makes it more difficult to use public land for a rail spur or construct a transfer station, although he does not rule out the possibility.

Then again, why would he? He needs investors to climb aboard, especially after Entergy Corporation, Florida Power and Light, Xcel Energy and Southern Co. withdrew from the proposed disposal site late last year.

Given that Parkyn and other PFS partners have invested nearly a decade of time, money and energy into this proposal, they aren't about to walk away from the project, which Time magazine has reported could be worth $100 million to the Skull Valley Band of the Goshute Tribe over 40 years. (Neither the tribe nor PFS officials will confirm the numbers.)

But it's not a sure thing. And Utah officials must continue to work diligently to ensure that a nuclear waste storage facility is not established in Utah.