State Senator wants to create nuclear waste site in Arizona

PHOENIX - State Senator Al Melvin has a plan to raise money for education. He wants to create a nuclear waste processing plant and burial site somewhere in Arizona.

It is a plan he said will raise $100 million that could be earmarked for education.

“We want to move on several fronts. We want to continue our outreach to the education community and try to get them to join us as partners in our coalition,” Melvin, R-Tucson, told the Arizona Capitol Times . “They’re the beneficiary of the fund, but they’re also going to help us educate the voters.”

A location has not been chosen, but some areas possible include near Safford, Holbrook and Kingman because there are underground salt deposits nearby. Those salt deposits have been deemed more stable and safer for storage of nuclear material.

Environmentalists say the idea is poorly researched.

"The safest place for the storage of the materials is where it is now, at the nuclear plants," said Sandy Bahr, with the Sierra Club. She said there are dangers in transporting the material and storing it creates both environmental and health concerns for the state.

A plan to make a site at Yucca Mountain in Nevada was recently terminated.

Melvin says that is an opportunity for the state and he is confident it is safe.