Utah allowed to process foreign nuclear waste

A court battle over whether a company in Salt Lake City should be allowed to process nuclear waste from Italy has come to its conclusion this week.


The Northwest Interstate Compact on Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management, a watchdog representing eight US states, had tried to block Utah-based EnergySolutions from processing the imported waste.

But on Friday, May 15 after a year-long legal scuffle, a district judge ruled in favour of the company saying that the compact had no jurisdiction over waste produced beyond the borders of the states it represents.

“We have always felt confident in our legal position and appreciate the thoroughness of Judge Stewart’s decision in this case,” said Steve Creamer, CEO and chairman of EnergySolutions.

“Our Clive, Utah disposal facility is a private commercial facility that is licensed by the State of Utah under delegated authority by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

“We are pleased that this ruling ends any question on this matter.”

The facility has been disposing of low-level material for over 20 years and has been disposing of residuals from internationally generated material for more than eight years.

Sam Bond

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