Utah Politics - The Salt Lake Tribune Gov. Mike Leavitt says he will not sign off on a permit for a Tooele County radioactive-waste landfill to accept "hotter," more dangerous radioactive waste.

And, in a separate move, Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, said he would introduce legislation to raise taxes on the landfill, operated by Envirocare of Utah, if Initiative 1 fails in Tuesday's election.

Bramble and Leavitt have publicly announced their opposition to the initiative. And both announced their pledges just days before voters statewide will be asked to decide on the Radioactive Waste Restrictions Act, a citizens initiative that would hike taxes on Envirocare and kill its plans to accept higher-level, "B&C" radioactive waste.

Envirocare already has passed the state Division of Radiation Control's safety and environmental tests. To expand into the lucrative business of disposing "B&C" waste -- which includes most nuclear plant waste, but not spent fuel rods -- the company also needs approval from the Legislature and the governor.