Press Conference: The end of Italian Waste Comment Period

After months of public officials and Utahns declaring “No, Grazie!,” the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s public comment period for EnergySolutions’ Italian waste import is coming to a close.

Il fine (the end) of the public comment period is this Tuesday, June 10th.

Join us for a press conference Tuesday at 9:30 am at the State Capitol Plaza to call on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to deny the request and urge the rest of Utah’s Congressional Delegation to support Rep. Matheson’s bill to ban foreign nuclear waste disposal in the U.S.

The NRC has received a record number of comments—over 1,200—opposed to EnergySolutions’ unprecedented proposal. And with the help of many of you on this list, we have collected an additional 1,200 comments.

Even with this public outpouring of opposition, and with Gov. Huntsman, the Utah Radiation Control Board, and the Northwest Interstate Compact all opposed to the plan, not one of Utah’s Republican members of Congress has been willing to speak out.

We need your help Tuesday to send a message to our Congressional delegation that it’s time to start acting, and stop defending EnergySolutions’ sacrifice of the public will for its bottom line.

Please join us Tuesday, June 10th, at 9:30 am at the State Capitol Plaza. Also, please sign the petition opposing EnergySolutions Italian waste import if you have not already done so.

The day after EnergySolutions CEO Steve Creamer testified before Congress saying his dumpsite was a “national asset,” a British Lord told Parliament that EnergySolutions offered to bury the United Kingdom’s waste in Utah. In fact, EnergySolutions has been working to lay the groundwork for bringing U.K. waste to our state, all the while saying they are not actively pursuing other foreign waste contracts.

As a company official quipped in early May, “Why not export U.K. waste to Clive [Utah]?”

To ensure EnergySolutions does not turn Utah and the U.S. into an international nuclear dumping ground, Congress needs to pass Rep. Matheson’s bill to ban the disposal of foreign nuclear waste in the U.S.

Show your support for this important piece of legislation on Tuesday. The press conference will be in the plaza directly north of the Capitol. Public parking is available in a lot to the east of the Capitol. For directions and to let us know you’re coming, contact Jessica at 801-355-5055 or Jessica@healutah.org.

Thank you to everyone who submitted comments to the NRC and helped gather signatures.

Hope to see you this Tuesday at 9:30 am at the State Capitol!