Gov. Huntsman blocks Italian waste plan!

In a statement released today, the Governor said, “Our country has limited space to store even domestic waste, and it would be most appropriate to have a federal policy against the importation of foreign nuclear waste. However, as the federal government is slow to adopt such a policy, Utah will lead the way.”

Please thank Governor Huntsman for once again being a leader in protecting our state from the special interests who would turn Utah into the world’s nuclear dumping ground.

You can call him at 801-538-1000 or e-mail him through his website here: http://governor.utah.gov/goca/form_comment.html

To block the Italian waste, Governor Huntsman will invoke his authority under the Northwest Interstate Compact, which regulates low-level nuclear waste in the region, to prohibit the disposal of any foreign nuclear waste in Utah.

Yet, even with Huntsman’s announcement today, Utah and the U.S. remain vulnerable to future requests to import foreign nuclear waste. Congressman Matheson has introduced legislation (HR 5632) that would ban these requests, closing the door firmly on EnergySolutions’ ambitions to sell our West Desert to the world as a nuclear waste dump.

But Senators Hatch and Bennett are siding with EnergySolutions. Please call our Senators and urge them to support Congressman Matheson’s bill banning foreign nuclear waste.

Senator Bennett can be reached at (202) 224-5444 or http://bennett.senate.gov/contact/emailmain.html

Senator Hatch’s contact info is (202) 224-5251 or http://hatch.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Offices.Contact

Here is a sample message you can leave:

I urge you to support HR 5632, the bill banning foreign nuclear waste imports. Governor Huntsman, Congressman Matheson, and leaders around the country have spoken out against opening America’s doors to the nation’s nuclear waste. Please protect Utah and our nation from becoming the world’s nuclear dumping ground.

EnergySolutions may pick a fight with the Governor or the Compact, raising doubts as to whether it is subject to the Compact’s authority. But if they choose to sue Utah’s Governor to secure the Italian waste contract, the people of Utah will be standing behind him every step of the way. We must also remain vigilant and work to pass Matheson’s foreign waste ban.

The NRC public comment period is open until June 10th, so you still have a chance to join with the Governor in saying "No, Grazie!" to Italian nuclear waste.  Submit your comments to the NRC through our web-form here :