Envirocare says the expansion is necessary to replace equipment the company has been using for more than 20 years at its facility near Clive, 80 miles northwest of Salt Lake City. Company officials say the best place to build new facilities to replace its aging rail line and equipment that empties the waste from the train cars is on a section of the 536-acre parcel Envirocare's new owners bought two months ago.

The license change is necessary because without it, Envirocare can't open a waste container on the new property, Senior Vice President Tim Barney said Tuesday.

But critics question the need to open the entire 536 acres to potential development as a waste cell, especially given Envirocare's statements that its current 543-acre facility can operate another 17 to 20 years.

Envirocare officials have said they won't expand their waste disposal onto the new land any time soon. But if that's the case, said Jason Groenewold, director of the advocacy group Healthy Environment Alliance Utah, why does the license amendment need to cover the entire land parcel?

"If they chose to restrict the boundary to encompass just what is needed for operational upgrades, we would be fine with that," Groenewold said. But he and his group "oppose vigorously" any attempt to double the waste disposal capacity. That opposition could include an appeal of any state approval, which could in turn affect the resolution's chances of making it to the special session.

Under state law, Envirocare must get the approval of the Legislature and governor to expand. It must also have approval from the state Radiation Control and Solid and Hazardous Waste divisions, as well as Tooele County. The government agencies already have given their preliminary sanctions.

Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. said Wednesday that he is not sure the Envirocare proposal will make it on the agenda for the April 19 special session. "I kind of doubt it," the governor said.

Huntsman, who has until April 17 to decide what is on the session's agenda, said he did not believe the proposal had been screened thoroughly by state officials to be rushed to lawmakers or his office.

Added Chief of Staff Jason Chaffetz, "We certainly don't want to see this slammed through."

The Division of Radiation Control will hold a public comment session April 14 at 7 p.m. The following day is the written comment deadline. State officials could review the comments and grant approval during the weekend leading up to Huntsman's deadline, said Dane Finerfrock, Radiation Control executive secretary.

Barney said Rep. James Gowans, D-Tooele, will sponsor the bill. Gowans could not be reached for comment. But Rep. Stephen Urquhart, who for two years co-chaired a legislative hazardous waste task force, said trying to deal with the Envirocare proposal during a special session was a bad idea - and bad government - because there won't be opportunity for public comment on the issue during the session.

"Expanding this to another cell, there's no reason that approval can't wait until January," when the Legislature will convene for its regular session, he said.