Michael Leavitt
Governor of Utah

Elected to the office of Governor in 1992, Michael Leavitt joins Calvin Rampston as the only Utah Governors to be elected to three full terms as the state's Chief Executive. Leavitt initially became aware of the Skull Valley Band's interest in nuclear waste storage early in his first term.

Leavitt was interviewed in his Capitol Hill office by program Producer Ken Verdoia.

Ken Verdoia: Governor, you have been adamant in the past that the relocation of radioactive waste, high level radioactive waste to Utah is something you do not view as being in the best interest of this state. Why?

Gov. Michael Leavitt: We don't produce it. We don't benefit from it and we don't want to store it for those who do. We think it's unsafe in the context of our community, having lethally hot nuclear waste 40 miles from where I sit right now and within a very close range of the major population center of this state is inconsistent with our vision of what we want this state to be.

Verdoia: If it was any other form of industrial waste, we probably would not be having this conversation, but the sheer subject matter, radioactive spent nuclear fuel rods, enlarges and inflames the dialogue that takes place. Why?

Gov. Leavitt: There are many reasons. One is that I suspect there is a social bias against it. It does taint the reputation of a state or a place that would become the capital for it. Second, there is a bonafide public safety issue. Not just in the context of the radioactive waste itself, but in this case the place it would be stored. It's very close to the Utah Test and Training Range, which is a very important economic asset to the state, as well as an important defense asset to the United States of America and we fear that it could, in fact, jeopardize the use of that. We're also concerned about the fact that we already store 44 percent of the nation's stockpile of chemical munitions in that very area. We think it makes us quite a target for mischief, among terrorists and others. A piece of this that's not ever been fully vetted by federal regulators. In fact, they've refused to even focus on it as an issue.

We have fears that it, long term, is a permanent facility. We don't see this as a temporary facility. Once it's moved there, we fear it will stay. We have some experience with radioactivity in this state and it's not a happy experience. We have been told at times that testing that was done in the West, the desert just west of there was safe. Well, it wasn't and my schoolmates died of cancer and other kinds of ailments that are directly related to it. And we were told at various times, by the federal government, that there was no testing going on with chemical munitions and entire sheep herds died. Then we were told, well, there was no connection, that it was just a coincidence. Well, it turns out that wasn't true either. So if we appear to have a fairly hefty dose of skepticism, it's been well earned.

Verdoia: What about those scientific assertions that this can be transported safely? That it can be stored safely? The challenges or risks attendant to the transportation and storage are so infinitesimally small as to be statistically nonexistent.

Gov. Leavitt: If it's so safe, why don't we just leave it where it is? There's capacity. It's stored at the site where it was produced. They're not going to change the nature of the technology used in storing it. This does not pass the logic test. Why would you move it twice? The ultimate solution here is to find a permanent place to store this or to revisit the national policy on how we dispose of it. But to move it to a "temporary site" and store it there for a period of time and move it again simply doesn't jive with the safety with which they proclaim.

Verdoia: In outward appearances you would therefore seem to pit Utah vs. Nevada. Nevada, if they're going to be a permanent location, they should receive the shipments so there wouldn't be the two shipments of the same material. On the other hand, some in Nevada maintain that if we can establish that Utah is safe for a temporary storage then Utah should receive the shipments. Do you feel these states are being pitted against each other or are you in fact allies in this battle?

Gov. Leavitt: Well, we walk a very sensitive balance. I've had lengthy conversations with Governor Gwen, and Governor Miller before him about this issue. The one thing we are united on is that it ought to stay where it is until there's a permanent, safe alternative.

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