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Federal regulators, responding to a crush of comments on a Utah company's request to import low-level radioactive waste from Italy, have extended the period for public comment.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has set June 10 as the new deadline for commenting on the waste-import license requested by Salt Lake City-based EnergySolutions. On Tuesday, the commission noted it had "had a number of requests for an extension" of the original comment period, due to end March 12.
The Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah (HEAL) was among those seeking an extension. Vanessa Pierce, the group's executive director, said HEAL had fielded calls from concerned people from as far away as Boston.
"This proposal is one of national significance," she said, noting that the public ought to have an opportunity to review it. "Extending the deadline will help ensure the general public can make their views known."
EnergySolutions spokesman Mark Walker said: "We have no problem with the NRC extending the comment period."
The company wants to dispose of low-level waste from Italy's dismantled nuclear reactors. High-level waste, such as fuel rods, has gone to France.
If the NRC approves the license, the low-level waste would be processed at EnergySolutions' Tennessee treatment plant.
Most of the 20,000 tons to be imported would be recycled into metal. About 1,600 tons would be buried in Tooele County, about 80 miles west of Salt Lake City.