The resolutions covered the nation's economic competitiveness, regional electricity policy-making, transportation of spent nuclear fuel, air quality in the West, future management of national forests and public lands, cleanup of Energy Department facilities and coal-bed methane development.
Developing the resolutions takes months. "It is a very formal process," Huntsman said. "There is some emphasis on a unified voice coming out of the Western governors."
As it happened, all 27 resolutions proffered were accepted unanimously.
Huntsman teamed with Nevada Gov. Kenny Guinn on the nuclear waste transportation resolution that included a provision that the federal government should not allow storage of the waste at interim sites in any state without the express consent of the governor.
Utah and Nevada's interests are inextricable on this issue. Against Nevada's will, Congress determined a permanent federal spent nuclear fuel repository should be located at Yucca Mountain, 90 miles north of Las Vegas.
That facility has faced persistent obstacles. Supposed to open by 1998, its opening now has been pushed back to 2015, if it ever opens at all.
Meanwhile, a consortium of eight nuclear power utilities called Private Fuel Storage signed a lease with the Skull Valley Band of Goshutes to build an interim facility on the reservation 45 miles southwest of Salt Lake City to store 44,000 tons of spent fuel rods. The state of Utah opposes the facility, especially as Yucca's viability diminishes.
The Huntsman-Guinn resolution supported establishing a permanent solution for management of spent nuclear fuel, but also urged federal agencies to look beyond finding a site to include coordinating with the states and tribes a safe transportation program.
The resolution also urges consideration of allowing the nuclear waste to remain at the reactor sites and says the Energy Department shouldn't be allowed to privatize any of the transportation or preparation.
"People at the highest level of government do take these [resolutions] seriously, so I'm encouraged," Huntsman said.
Huntsman, a Republican, co-sponsored three resolutions with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat, covering economic competitiveness, Western air quality and open space.
Richardson said he would work with Huntsman on plans to hold a Western presidential primary in 2008.
"We would like to see the West not be a flyover region in presidential elections," said Richardson. "Several states are already teaming up."
Tammy Kikuchi, Huntman's spokeswoman, said the Utah governor "has been talking to Governor Richardson about this. I think it's pretty much in an idea state."
