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House urges EPA to extend mixed-waste variance after Nucor contamination incident
Summary
House Concurrent Resolution 19 asks the EPA to grant Utah a one-year variance to the national capacity requirements for mixed radioactive waste after a Nucor Steel incident; sponsor said no current U.S. disposal site can accept the material and HCR 19 passed 58–0.
Representative Arlee Allen presented House Concurrent Resolution 19 asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to extend a variance to the national capacity requirements for mixed radioactive waste for at least one year so the state can prepare a disposal site. Allen recounted an incident at a Nucor steel plant where low-level radioactive material entered the melting process; the material was isolated, placed on railcars and stored on a dedicated spur. Allen said EPA requires disposition of the material by May 8, 1992, but that no U.S. disposal site currently accepts this waste and that Utah may have a site online soon.
Allen said EPA also stores similar material in Tooele County, underscoring the statewide scope of the challenge. He asked colleagues to support the resolution urging EPA to grant more time; the House voted and the clerk announced HCR 19 received 58 aye votes and no negative votes. The resolution will be sent to the senate for further action.
