Utah tribe may store spent nuclear rods

[NVMojo]

February 16, 2005

WASHINGTON – An hour's drive from Salt Lake City, between Utah's Cedar and Stansbury mountain ranges, there lies a lonely, arid valley marked by perhaps three paved roads and the homes of a few American Indian families.



Skull Valley – a longtime dumping ground for hazardous waste, low-level radioactive debris and the byproducts of biological and chemical weapons testing – is a literal and figurative wasteland.

But in a matter of weeks, it could be on its way to becoming a gold mine for some, or further cursed for others.

This month, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission may decide whether a private company can move forward with its plan to put high-level nuclear waste in that part of the valley home to the Skull Valley band of Goshute Indians.

The decision comes when a congressionally approved dump in Nevada's Yucca Mountain is moving slowly and officials running the nation's nuclear reactors are clamoring for a place to put their spent fuel rods.

more...

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20050216-9999-1n16nukes.html

if that one doesn't work, try this one:

http://signonsandiego.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=SignOnSanDiego.com+%

[SpiralHawk]

1. Skull Valley - Isn't that right next to Boner Butte?

BushCo Skull and Boners are busy little buggers.

[shawcomm]

2. When will we stop the attacks on the Native Americans?

the venture comes with concerns – among them, whether it amounts to an abuse of Indian land and people

I think Indians are the last group of people that it's still okay to dehumanize. These people are still viewed by most as caricatures of hollywood stereotypes. Ignorance, plain and simple. It's disgusting. Now this tribe is being targeted by one more company that sees an easy way to make a buck, with the government's blessings.

This is the insidious part. People think the BIA works for Native Americans. It doesn't. It seems to have been formed to continue the government's oppression. For example, the Choctaws who were forced into Oklahoma later had their lands taken back to make room for white settlers. The government told them that they would give each of them a parcel of land (again, in the places thought most barren), but would have to be registered to do so. The government thought that this method would finally oversee the eventual distruction of the Native American. By registering and taking this parcel of land, they would be bound by the government as to what they could do with the land. All rentals & use of the land have to be authorized by the federal government. In doing so, the BIA usually awards the lowest bidder or outright sides with the corporations, which means the Indians do not receive a fair rental for the use of their land. They do not allow the Indians to broker their own deals for the use of this land. Then, the money has to get sent to the BIA for holding for each Native American. The BIA has allowed billions to be stolen from the Individual Indian Money accounts.

It's not just land rental, it's royalties too. Oil companies who have wells on Indian lands pay stupifyingly small royalty percentages to Native Americans. Why? Because they can and do it with the blessing of the government.

Back to this story, I'm sure these companies will receive huge compensation from the government and various reactors. Just as I'm sure that the percentage paid to this tribe will be tiny compared to the long lasting consequences this tribe will face. The government will probably approve this, claiming it will help the tribe not caring whether it does or not.