An impressive rally Monday night against high-level nuclear waste in Utah. And Utah's governor headed up the fight against a temporary storage site in Utah's Skull Valley.
News Specialist John Daley was there.
Monday at the Salt Palace, the Atomic Safety and Licensing board took public comment on this hot issue. But earlier Monday evenin, a rally and a march captured the predominant sentiment being heard at that meeting. The message: "No High-Level Nuke Waste in Utah."
In Utah, it's hard to imagine an issue on which progressive liberals and staunch conservatives agree. But when it comes to storing high-level nuclear in Utah's West Desert, a rally shows the two sides do agree passionately--even the mayor and the governor--who rarely see eye to eye.
The potentially lethal spent fuel rods are stored at nuclear power plants around the country.
The industry wants to move them to temporary storage on the Skull Valley Goshute Indian reservation, and eventually to a permanent storage inside Nevada's Yucca Mountain.
Critics say the waste casks make a tempting target for terrorists.
Mary Draper/Nuclear Opposition Coalition: "TO PLACE TONS AND TONS OF NUCLEAR WASTE, EXPOSED ON THE OPEN DESERT FLOOR, REALLY STRUCK ME AS OBVIATING THE RISK FOR MY FAMILY AS WE RESIDE CLOSE TO SUCH A DANGEROUS THING."
As the last round of federal hearings began on the Utah proposal, there were frequent references to atomic testing in the 1950's.
REP. JIM MATHESON/D-2ND DIST: "THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TOLD US WE WERE SAFE, WHEN IN FACT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT KNEW WE WERE AT RISK."
Jerry Johnson/Spanish Fork: "TO THIS DAY, I'M STILL HAVING SKIN CANCERS DUG OUT OF ME, BURNED OFF OF ME. GOT A BIG ONE THERE JUST THE OTHER DAY, UP ON MY ARM, THAT CAME FROM THAT FALLOUT."
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Others said the fears are overblown and misdirected.
Fred Wahlquist/ Retired Nuclear Worker: "ONE WOULD HAVE TO HUG ONE OF THOSE SPENT FUEL CASKS TIGHTLY FOR 10 TO 15 HOURS TO GET THE SAME AMOUNT OF RADIATION YOU WOULD GET FROM A NORMAL MEDICAL X-RAY."
Stephen Barrows/Waste Storage Advocate: "SPENT NUCLEAR FUEL IN SKULL VALLEY WILL NOT IMPAIR THE HEALTH OF ANYBODY IN UTAH NOR EVEN THE WORKERS, OR THE ONES LIVING IN THE GOSHUTE VILLAGE A FEW MILES AWAY."
The Goshute Indians stand to make big money. But they're not all on board the gravy train.
Miranda Wash/Skull Valley Goshute: "OUR LAND WILL BE RUINED, AND WE WON'T HAVE A PLACE TO GO BACK TO IF OUR LAND IS RUINED FROM THE RADIATION OR WHATEVER IT PUTS OUT."
Even a long-time project proponent is now expressing strong doubts. Rex Allen was one of three tribal leaders who signed the original contract to store waste on the reservation. Now he is speaking out against the plan.
Rex Allen/Goshute Tribal Member: "I'M DOUBTING EVERYTHING NOW, EVEN OUR CONTRACT."
The vocal majority marching the street Monday night expressed concern as well.
SCOTT WALES/SALT LAKE CITY RESIDENT: "I'M NOT A GREENIE, NO. BUT THIS IS JUST SUCH A CLEAR CUT CASE OF WRONG."
Margene Bullcreek/Nuclear Waste Opponent: "IT'LL BE A DISASTER. MAYBE EVEN A CHANCE THAT WE'LL HAVE TO RELOCATE."
A decision could come this fall on the Utah proposal and temporary storage could begin about two years from now.
The Nevada permanent storage site is on a seperate track. A special law gave the Governor there the right to veto the President's choice of Nevada.
Now that he's done it, the ball lands in Congress's court for the final showdown.
April 8, 2002
