Matheson Asks Utah Governor to Continue Opposing Foreign Nuke Waste

Sept. 11, 2009

Salt Lake City - Congressman Jim Matheson said today he has written to Utah Governor Gary Herbert asking that he continue the work of his predecessor to back Matheson’s bipartisan effort to ban the importation of foreign radioactive waste.

Matheson’s letter references “recent press reports [that] indicate some in the Utah State Legislature are considering allowing foreign waste to be imported and stored” in the state.

“It’s a horrible idea to consider opening up Utah to the entire world’s radioactive garbage in exchange for a share of what the company says are the profits,” said Matheson.  “The influence-peddling that is going on doesn’t obscure the fact that federal rules are in place to protect the health, safety and economic well-being of the states when it comes to handling and storage of dangerous radioactive waste.  No other country on earth takes another country’s nuclear waste and I am determined that the U.S. won’t be the exception.”

Matheson called on Governor Herbert and the Utah legislature to reject the company’s attempt to end-run the policy debate, including input from the public.  He also urged the state to vigorously pursue its court fight to uphold the compact system that was devised to give states a say in radioactive waste disposal.

“Utahns have spoken loudly and clearly in their opposition to being a dumping ground for unregulated, hazardous waste,” said Matheson’s letter.  “Furthermore, it appears clear to me, based on public comments and Congressional testimony, that the company that wants to import waste sees this as a ripe business opportunity, which is not just limited to waste from a single nation, but appears to be the tip of the iceberg.”

Matheson has introduced bipartisan legislation—HR 515 The Radioactive Import Deterrence or RID Act-- that bans the importation of foreign waste.  The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has not yet acted on a licensing request from a Utah company to import 20,000 tons—with Utah disposal of 1,600 tons—of radioactive waste from Italy. The bill has 79 bipartisan cosponsors; a companion bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate.

“Renewed talk of capitulating to one company’s bottom line makes me more determined than ever to pass the RID Act and settle the issue once and for all,” said Matheson.

###