There, amid signs calling for Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.'s veto, the sophomore at Juan Diego Catholic High School added her voice.
"They shouldn't turn to Utah to dump their waste," she said. "We're not their garbage can."
About 60 protestors gathered outside the mansion Saturday to oppose a bill that has sailed through the House and Senate with enough votes to override a Huntsman veto.
The bill would eliminate the role of the governor, Legislature and local elected officials in deciding on major expansions at the EnergySolutions landfill in Tooele County.
While opponents fear EnergySolutions will escalate dumping on the mile-square site without proper oversight, supporters say the measure simply clarifies the Legislature's view that politicians shouldn't get involved in changes at the current site as long as the waste is no hotter than the low-level material currently permitted.
Oversight of such expansions would rest with the state's Division of Radiation Control.
Salt Lake City resident Peter VanDuser - whose sign stated flatly "Veto SB155" in red block letters - said radioactive waste disposal deserves the safeguard of an additional review by elected officials.
"There is no such thing as being too careful when it comes to nuclear waste," he said.
Huntsman has until Tuesday to decide whether to veto the so-called EnergySolutions bill.
He did not announce his intentions last week, but said he is reviewing the bill.
Opponents hope to sway both the governor and several members of the House or Senate to make a veto hold up.
Smoke swirled skyward Saturday as members of the Oklevueha Native American Church of Utah offered a prayer in front of the governor's mansion. The protesters smoked a prayer pipe outside the fenceline, hoping to summon support to defeat the bill.
Linda Mooney, founder of the Native American church, believes the bill could have a profound negative impact on generations to come.
"This is all about what we are doing to our earth, especially our land here in Utah," she said.
jstettler@sltrib.com
