Correction
In Wednesday’s Buzz I made a couple of sleep-deprived errors, listing Jim Noorlander as a Democrat in the 3rd Congressional District (he is actually a Constitution Party member) and leaving out Torin Nelson, who is a Democrat. I also inadvertently put Rep. Jim Matheson in the 3rd District instead of 2nd District, and should have included Lawrence R. Topham and Ronald H. Levine as U.S. Senate candidates on the GOP ticket.
Thanks to reader Jeff Bell, among others, for correcting me.
Write a Letter to the BLM
When Sen. Orrin Hatch urges Utahns to write letters to the Bureau of Land Management opposing storage of high-level nuclear waste on the Goshute Reservation, there is a real urgency in his voice.
Hatch really believes petitioning the BLM may be the last best chance for Utahns to keep the world’s nastiest waste out of Utah. And he’s been disappointed at the response of Utahns so far. Many Utahns may think that writing a letter will won’t make any real difference. Hatch says that’s not true. In this case, letters could make all the difference.
Private Fuel Storage, the nuclear power plant consortium that wants to dump its waste in Utah, has received a license to proceed. It needs, however, land from the BLM for either a rail line or a transfer station adjacent to the I-80 freeway. At Hatch’s urging, the BLM has re-opened the comment period so Utahns and other can express their views on the matter.
Hatch believes the BLM is acting in good faith and if it receives an outpouring of opposition to the PFS plan from Utah leaders and ordinary citizens, there’s a good chance it will reject the PFS rights-of-way requests.
Hatch has been disappointed that the Utah news media have not taken up the cause more actively and editorially urged citizens to write the BLM. The BLM needs to be inundated with many thousands of letters and e-mail messages, he said. Comments need to be sent before May 8 and should be addressed to: Pam Shuller, Bureau of Land Management, Salt Lake Field Office, 2370 South 2300 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84119. Fax: (801) 977-4397; Email: pam_schuller@blm.gov
The West Desert, directly upwind of the Wasatch Front, adjacent to a major freeway, and in the flight path of jet fighters training with live bombs, is the worst place imaginable to put this stuff. If you want to keep high-level waste out of Utah, send a message to the BLM. For a lot more information, check out this page on Hatch’s Senate Web site.
Matheson Avoids ‘Most Vulnerable’ List
Rep. Jim Matheson, Utah’s lone Democrat in Congress, used to be considered one of the most vulnerable Democrats in the U.S. House. He would annually make the lists of incumbents who could potentially be defeated.
Today, things have changed. Matheson has consolidated support in his Republican-leaning district to the point that he didn’t even make the top 50 “most vulnerable” House seats in a National Journal ranking.
Matheson’s strength makes is more difficult for his main GOP opponent, LaVar Christensen, to raise national money and get support from national Republican groups. That can also be a blessing for Christensen, however, because it is less likely national Republicans or conservative groups will waltz in to Utah and run idiotic negative advertising against Matheson like they have in the previous two elections.
For Christensen to win, he has to run a near-perfect race, and he can’t be hampered by national hit-groups who don’t have a clue how to campaign in Utah.
Blog Watch
The Senate Site blog explains the mechanics of a veto override (just in case)... Jen's Green Journal responds further to LaVarr Webb's "angry liberal" thesis... Liberty for Utahns! says Utah "neoconservatives" are trying to undermine fair elections in Salt Lake County... This Divided State says Gov. Huntsman "is more level headed than I've previously given him credit for" (see also here)... Utahnia says of his precinct caucus meeting: "Should have made my wife go instead" (see also here, here, here, here, here, here, and here)... BYU-I College Democrats says "it's time that both parties stop politically capitalizing on moral issues"... One Utah features an essay-length post by congressional candidate Steve Olsen, who explains "why most Utahns are Democrats and just don't know it yet"... Swerve Left says Pres. Bush's "only hope at this point is that the state of Utah takes over the entire U.S. and establishes a Mormon theocracy in which only Mormon men will have the right to vote."
Washington Watch
Bennett, Matheson Unveil Lands Proposal
Sen. Bob Bennett and Rep. Jim Matheson unveil a draft proposal "to address the rapid growth in Washington County through comprehensive land management and responsible conservation initiatives" (see Bennett press release and Matheson press release).
Norton: New Guidelines for R.S. 2477
Interior Sec. Gale Norton announces "new guidelines to assist Interior land managers in implementing a recent [Utah-related] court decision regarding roads across federally owned lands" (see press release).
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