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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Envirocare of Utah has announced it is dropping its expansions plans -- for now.
The announcement Thursday came just after the state Radiation Control Board confirmed state regulators' approval of the proposed expansion of the Tooele County site for disposal of hazardous and radioactive wastes.
Jason Groenewold, executive director of the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah, predicted the plan will be revived and said the board's decision will be appealed.
"We are absolutely looking forward to getting this into a real court before a real judge," he said.
Envirocare had been seeking approval of its plan to add nearly a square mile to the square mile it already operates.
"In this instance," the statement said, "we feel it is in everyone's best interest to announce that we will not pursue legislative approval for (the new section) at this time."
Either the governor or the Legislature can veto such an expansion -- under current state law.
In November, Gov. Jon Huntsman said he would not approve the expansion.
However, state Sen. Howard Stephenson, president of the business-supported Utah Taxpayers Association, is pushing a bill that would allow legislators to override Huntsman's veto of the expansion with a two-thirds vote.
Groenewold said Envirocare is "just waiting until it's easier to get their approvals without a governor on board."
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
