Leon Bear, the chairman of the small Skull Valley Goshute Band of Utah, has survived ouster attempts and a federal indictments as he pushes a plan to store up to 44,000 tons of nuclear waste on the reservation.

"I'm chief for life at this point," he tells Reuters.

Bear won't say how much the tribe will get for accepting the waste. "Millions, I wouldn't say tens of millions -- maybe over time," he says.

Some tribal members oppose the project but have been unable to kick Bear out of office despite his legal troubles. One opposition member ended up getting indicted.

The state of Utah is trying to block the dump but it has survived every legal and political challenge. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved a license earlier this year. Other approvals from federal agencies are pending.

Get the Story:
U.S. tribe sees riches in Utah nuclear waste storage (Reuters 9/1)

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

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