Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Utah House debates ban on class B and C low-level radioactive waste; lawmakers split over immediate ban or study
Summary
Representatives debated House Bill 237 to prohibit acceptance of class B and C low-level radioactive waste in Utah. Sponsor Rep. Holdaway urged a ban citing 500-year hazards; opponents warned of legal risks and urged a task force or process-based approach. Final disposition was pending at recess.
Representative Holdaway urged the Utah House to ban acceptance of class B and C low-level radioactive waste, framing the measure as a long-term stewardship decision the legislature must make now.
"There is no way that I can, in good conscience, burden our descendants with the responsibility and liability of monitoring nuclear waste that Utahns did not generate for centuries to come," Representative Holdaway said as he introduced House Bill 237, citing concerns that some class B and C materials can remain hazardous for "500 years." He told colleagues that the Division of Radiation Control recently granted a license and that the question before lawmakers was a policy decision whether to accept higher-level wastes from outside the state.
Supporters of a ban focused on public safety and public opinion. Representative Holdaway pointed to a 2001 Nuclear Regulatory…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
