The state of Utah has spent nearly $3.8 million fighting a proposed nuclear waste dump on the Skull Valley Goshute Reservation, The Salt Lake Tribune reports.

State lawmakers are being asked to approve $500,000 over the next two years to continue the campaign. They indicated it would be a top priority.

The tribe has not received final federal approval to build the repository. A coalition of eight private utility companies wants to store up to 44,000 tons of waste on a small portion of the reservation.

The tribe's chairman, Leon Bear, is facing trial in federal court for allegedly stealing tribal and federal funds. Authorities say some of the money he took came from an office funded by the utility companies.

Get the Story:
Fight to keep N-dump at bay has support (The Salt Lake Tribune 1/28)

Relevant Documents:
Federal Indictment (December 17, 2003)

Relevant Links:
Skull Valley Goshute Tribe - http://www.skullvalleygoshutes.org

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