The Atomic Safety and Licensing Board heard arguments on Wednesday against its decision to allow a nuclear waste dump on the Skull Valley Goshute Reservation in Utah.

The state of Utah, backed by some members of the tribe, filed the appeal. The state says the risk of a plane crash from a nearby Air Force base is too high and can't be ignored.

In a 2-1 decision in February, the board said the likelihood of a crash "is somewhat less than one in a million per year." The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has final say, however.

Leon Bear, the chairman of the tribe who is under indictment for theft and tax fraud charges, signed a multi-million dollar deal to host the repository. Up to 44,000 tons of highly radioactive waste would be stored on a portion of the reservation.

Get the Story:
State appeals N-dump ruling (The Salt Lake Tribune 4/7)
Goshute fight is back at NRC (The Deseret Morning News 4/7)

Public Decision:
In the matter of Private Fuel Storage (February 24, 2005)

Relevant Links:
Skull Valley Goshute Tribe - http://www.skullvalleygoshutes.org
Private Fuel Storage - http://www.privatefuelstorage.com

Related Stories:
Bill aimed at stopping Goshute waste dump revived (04/01)
Goshute activist pleads guilty to avoid prison (03/29)
Agency urged to reject tribe's nuclear waste dump (03/18)
Governor lobbies Norton on Goshute waste dump (03/15)
New efforts in fight against nuclear waste dump (03/10)
Editorial: Tribe needs waste dump alternative (03/04)
State gears up for fight against nuclear waste dump (2/28)
Nuclear waste dump on Utah reservation advances (2/25)
Waste dump on reservation could be nation's first (02/16)
Decision expected on tribe's nuclear waste dump (02/11)
Nuclear industry could support tribe's waste site (01/31)
One charge dropped against indicted Goshute leader (01/28)
Embattled Goshute chairman remains in power (12/06)
Skull Valley Goshute Tribe's election called off (11/22)
Supreme Court asked to rule on Goshute waste dump (11/01)
Nuclear waste on reservation may be permanent (10/15)
Rally opposes nuclear waste dump on reservation (10/11)
Skull Valley Goshute meeting ends with arrests (08/27)
Goshute waste dump hearings closed to public (08/10)
State can't block tribe's nuclear waste site (8/5)
Griles met with lobbyist for Goshute nuclear site (06/29)
Skull Valley Tribe paying chairman's legal fees (06/09)
Bill seeks compromise over Goshute waste dump (05/20)
Tiny Utah tribe divided over nuclear waste dump (05/12)
Court won't invalidate lease for Goshute nuclear dump (03/08)
Court won't halt Skull Valley nuclear waste dump (2/25)
Goshute members want NRC to review leader's actions (02/10)
Utah spent $3.8M fighting Goshute waste dump (01/29)
Goshute Tribe seeks to bar IRS enforcement (01/23)
Goshute chairman enters plea in fraud, theft case (01/21)
Goshute faction pleads innocent to bank fraud (01/12)
Goshute chairman calls theft charges 'utterly false' (1/8)
Utah tribal chairman indicted for theft, fraud (12/19)
Goshute chairman indicted for alleged theft (12/18)
10th Circuit hears arguments in Goshute waste case (08/27)
Opponent to tribe's waste plans headed to D.C. (08/12)
Utah governor presses nuclear waste investigation (07/14)
Goshute members accuse tribe of persecution (07/11)
Panel considers Goshute nuclear waste plan (05/30)
Final ruling on Goshute nuclear could come soon (5/29)
Rulings support Goshute nuclear waste dump (5/28)
Goshute waste site survives earthquake review (5/23)
Goshute meeting said to be 'usual shouting match' (4/30)
Norton asked to pull approval for Goshute waste site (4/25)
Goshute Tribe rejects Griles deal as 'disingenuous' (4/24)
Lobbyist for Goshute waste facility paid well (4/23)
Panel to review revised Goshute waste proposal (04/07)
Scaled back Goshute nuclear plan unveiled (04/01)
Utah tribe's nuclear waste plan dealt big setback (03/11)
Court asked to review Goshute waste proposal (2/13)
Goshute leaders accused of retaliation (01/06)
Dissident Goshute challenge dismissed (10/02)
Rival Goshute lawsuit dismissed (9/13)
Nuke transportation routes worry some (8/26)
Goshute Tribe offers up its 'wasteland' (8/12)
Abraham fighting tribal waste plans (7/16)
Crash threat cited to Goshute facility (4/11)
Goshute rivals seek review of decision (4/2)
Abraham: Yucca Mountain is safe (3/26)
Goshute member cites high-level help (3/15)
FBI subpoenas Goshute leaders (3/14)
Order on Goshute finances halted (3/8)
Tribe ordered to disclose financials (2/26)
State loses tribal lease challenge (7/11)
Tiny tribe worried about nuclear push (5/9)
Tribe files suit to protect nuclear investment (4/20)
Utah bans high-level nuclear waste (03/14)