GLOBAL CLIMATE DEBATE

New Nuclear Waste Site Proposed for Utah

Utah is home to the only low-level nuclear waste storage site for 36 states, but another one could be located there in the future.

Former Envirocare President Charles Judd wants to build a new site on state land near Interstate 80 in Tooele County. Envirocare was the predecessor to Energy Solutions Inc., which runs the current facility in Utah's west desert. Judd says that site will be full in about a year and unable to receive future waste from the decommissioning of nuclear power plants.

Judd presented his plan to the state's Radiation Control Board on Tuesday. He and his current company, Cedar Mountain Environmental, are offering state schools tens of millions of dollars in revenue from the proposed plant. He also wants to increase taxes on radioactive waste by 50 percent and double state oversight fees.

The pitch comes as the state faces a $700 million budget shortfall.

Judd acknowledged that it would be years before the new facility is up and running, but says it's time to get started now.

IMPORTED WASTE

EnergySolutions President Val Christensen said in a statement that the process of opening a new disposal site is lengthy and expensive, and the company is unaware of any progress Judd has made. EnergySolutions offered last year to share revenue from the disposal of nuclear waste from Italy's shuttered nuclear program with the state if it dropped its objections to importing the material. The idea was supported by some lawmakers but rebuffed by former Gov. Jon Huntsman.

Judd said Cedar Mountain is not seeking to import foreign low-level radioactive waste. He says it also will not import depleted uranium, which EnergySolutions has been disposing of for years. Those who oppose storing depleted uranium, including environmental groups and some in Congress, are concerned that the material will become too hot for a low-level disposal site.

Judd's proposal must be approved by state regulators, the legislature and the governor. A spokeswoman for Republican Gov. Gary Herbert, who faces a special election this fall, said Herbert did not support a second disposal site. She did not elaborate.

The nuclear waste watchdog group Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah is calling on state lawmakers to reject the proposal.