At issue is an application by EnergySolutions to import low-level radioactive waste from Italy's nuclear power industry, and turn Utah into the world's dumping ground. (We can say that with some certainty after the revelation that the company has had discussions with at least one member of Parliament about burying some of the United Kingdom's low-level nuclear waste at its disposal facility in Clive.)

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission probably won't stop it. The agency will rule strictly on the technical merits of the request - whether the waste can be legally and safely disposed of - when it considers the Italian waste application this summer. So, despite valid arguments against the plan - dangerous waste should not be a commodity, disposal space should be reserved for domestic waste, etc. - the application will likely be approved.

The Northwest Interstate Compact on Low-Level Radioactive Waste Management may not be able to stop it either. Earlier this month, at Huntsman's urging, the group denied EnergySolutions' request, and the company promptly sued in federal court, claiming that the compact lacks jurisdiction over private companies, and only the NRC can regulate foreign waste imports.

So, it appears that it will take an act of Congress to stop the plan. But only one Utah congressman, Rep. Jim Matheson, has answered the call to action.

Matheson has introduced legislation to ban the importation of low-level radioactive waste, and wisely reserve our limited disposal space for domestic waste. And he needs all the help he can get to move it along. But Utah Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett, and Reps. Chris Cannon and Rob Bishop, all Republicans flush with campaign contributions from EnergySolutions' political action committee and company officials, are withholding their support.

Perhaps the gentlemen need a history lesson. Utahns have a healthy fear of radioactive materials, a fear born of bad experience from years of atomic weapons testing, and uranium mining and milling.

Still, when it comes to aiding and abetting our nation's nuclear power industry, we do more than our share. EnergySolutions' dump in Tooele County already accepts nearly all of the low-level waste produced in the United States. But enough is enough.

It's time for Utahns to reopen the lines of communication and send a message to Washington, loud and clear. Tell Hatch, Bennett, Cannon and Bishop to get off the fence and start representing us. Tell them we won't be the world's dumping ground.