Utah to consider resolution on Yucca

Friday, Feb. 22, 2002 | 9:43 a.m.

The Utah Legislature will consider a joint resolution Monday opposing a high-level nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain.

The resolution was introduced Feb. 4, before Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham and President Bush approved the site 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas for the burial of 77,000 tons of commercial spent fuel and defense wastes.

The resolution makes it clear that Congress should reject the president's recommendation.

The Utah resolution will be considered before the Legislature's Senate Health and Environment Committee, which chaired by Sen. Peter Knudson, a Republican.

While Yucca Mountain would be a permanent repository for radioactive waste, the Goshute Indian tribe near Salt Lake City has negotiated for temporary waste storage on the reservation. Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt and other state officials oppose the interim storage proposal.

The Utah resolution argues against storing nuclear waste on the Goshute reservation because of a threat to public health and safety.