And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
Landowners Drop Opposition to
Nuclear Dump
http://www.sltrib.com/1998/dec/12241998/utah/69466.htm
BY BRENT ISRAELSEN
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
Two landowners who once were allies with the state in
opposing a high-level nuclear-waste repository on American
Indian land in Tooele County have agreed not to oppose the
project further.
Skull Valley Co. and Castle Rock Land and Livestock have
settled their dispute with Private Fuel Storage (PFS), a
consortium of electric utilities from around the country.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is widely believed
to be a financial payoff.
``It seems evident that the PFS folks have made it worth their
while not to oppose them,'' said a displeased Utah Gov. Mike
Leavitt.
Leavitt is vigorously fighting PFS's proposal to temporarily
store several tons of highly radioactive waste on sovereign land
of the Skull Valley band of the Goshute Indians. The band's
reservation is in Skull Valley, about 60 miles west of Salt Lake
City.
The governor believes the project would endanger the health
and safety of Utah residents.
The landowners, who run livestock on about 60,000 acres
west and north of the Indian reservation, had feared the
nuclear-waste proposal could negatively affect their operations.
Earlier this year, the landowners succeeded in becoming
intervenors before the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
(NRC) in the federal licensing process for the PFS facility. The
state also was granted intervenor status.
Since then, PFS has been negotiating with the landowners. A
settlement was reached this month, and the landowners asked
NRC to dismiss them as intervenors.
``We are satisfied that our interests will be protected if this
[nuclear-waste storage] project moves forward,'' said
Christopher Robinson, spokesman for the land companies.
PFS project manager Scott Northard said the settlement
demonstrates his company's desire to be a ``good corporate
citizen and a good neighbor.''
Leavitt said he understands the private landowners had to
make an ``economic decision'' in backing off their opposition of
the PFS proposal. But he was clearly irked that PFS continues
to dip into deep financial pockets to sweeten its proposal.
``It seems to be the way they approach this,'' Leavitt said.
``They are putting enough money in the hands of the Goshutes
that [the tribe is] willing to overlook the safety concerns of their
neighbors.''
In any event, the loss of the landowners' opposition will not
hurt the state's case, he said.
By next fall or early 2000, state attorneys will argue before
the NRC's Atomic Safety Licensing Board that the PFS proposal
has failed to adequately address transportation safety issues and
has failed to prove the proposed storage site can withstand
predicted seismic activity.
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