Herbert wants to delay nuclear waste shipments

SALT LAKE CITY — Citing his duty to ensure the health and safety of Utahns, Gov. Gary Herbert wrote a letter Tuesday asking the U.S. Department of Energy to delay shipments of depleted uranium until the state has new safeguards in place for its disposal.

The letter to be sent to Energy Secretary Steven Chu says it is only "prudent that there be further study" before the radioactive material comes to Utah.

"Unfortunately, the Department of Energy's decision to initiate transport of up to 14,000 tons of DU has circumvented our important state processes," Herbert wrote. "I am disappointed that these shipments, which were not expected to begin until spring, are now coming before our rule-making process is complete."

The state Radiation Control Board has been knee-deep in trying to arrive at public policies geared to the safe disposal of the radioactive waste at EnergySolutions' Clive facility in Tooele County.

A proposed rule that would require EnergySolutions to perform a site-based performance assessment before taking any shipments is out for public comment and won't become effective until at least early next year.

Although classified as "low-level" waste, depleted uranium poses unique disposal challenges because it grows "hotter" over time. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is involved in its own rule-making process that would require additional safety constraints.

Herbert's letter is a response to notice received by state regulators late last week that an initial shipment of 3,500 tons of depleted uranium is already on its way to Utah from the DOE's Savannah River site in South Carolina. The material is anticipated to arrive next week, according to the governor's letter.

Herbert wrote that he was concerned that initiation of the shipments is being done for the wrong reason.

"As a scientist yourself," the letter to Chu says, "I know you can appreciate that good public policy requires good science, and I am concerned that DOE's decision to ship this waste to Utah now is based more on politics than on science."

EnergySolutions spokesman Mark Walker said the company had no comment on Herbert's letter.

A statement released Tuesday by DOE spokeswoman Jen Stutsman said the agency will continue to ready the depleted uranium for shipment to — and disposal in — Utah.