In a heated debate between opposing sides of Initiative 1, two quick-witted contenders attempted to sway the audience's vote in their favor.

The campaign against Initiative 1, also called the Radioactive Waste Restrictions Act, has spent a record $3.57 million to influence politicians and keep people from voting yes, making this one of the most expensive ballots in Utah's history.

In the debate held at the University of Utah on Wednesday Oct. 30, Hugh Matheson, head of the campaign against the initiative, and Frank Pignanelli, campaign manager for Initiative 1, deliberated in a classroom overloaded with students, teachers and reporters.

The debate turned into a battle of wits and sarcasm as the two opponents openly insulted the other's position.

One example of this was a response by Matheson when jokingly asked if he planned to use passion and language to address his position as Pignanelli was using during the debate.

"I don't have to use rhetoric," Matheson responded. "I don't get that passionate because I have facts on my side."

Initiative 1, appearing on ballots in Tuesday's election, would raise taxes on class A radioactive waste dumped at Envirocare's Tooele County landfill, direct the extra revenue to schools and anti-poverty programs and ban class B and C waste from Utah.

The nuclear waste tax, now varying from 30 cents to $68, would rise to a range of $4.60 to $200, according to Matheson.

The 13,000-word, nearly 20-page initiative is long and complicated, Matheson said.

"They created a Christmas tree and decorated it to please different groups," Matheson said. "That is why it is so long."

Pignanelli said this initiative is important because Utah is not being compensated as it should be to take in nuclear waste.

"The other states don't want the waste," Pignanelli said. "We are storing chemical weapons, hazardous waste and PCP waste. If we're going to be a toilet, let's be a paid toilet."

If the initiative does not pass, Pignanelli said Utah would receive B and C waste from decommissioned nuclear reactors because it is so cheap to send it here.

Class B waste stays radioactive for up to 200 years, and Class C remains radioactive for up to 500 years. Both B and C are not disposed of in Utah at this moment.

Matheson said there is more involved in this initiative than increased taxes on nuclear waste. Companies such as Envirocare face possible bankruptcy if the initiative is passed.

He said there are many waste sites around Utah, such as in Moab, that have existed since the 1950s. It will be more expensive to clean up these sites because of the higher taxes.

The state might also become reliant on the revenue generated by the new tax, which could "create a political constituency" reliant upon nuclear waste.

"If you aren't sure what the initiative will do, vote against it," Matheson said.



Copyright Brigham Young University 31 Oct 2002