You have to hand it to EnergySolutions. When they decide to do something, they go big.

In addition to fighting Gov. Jon Huntsman in federal court, they’ve decided to bribe the entire Utah State Legislature to enact legislation that would allow them to import foreign nuclear waste into Utah. The current offer: half of up to $3 billion in profit from foreign waste disposal, on top of the hundreds of thousands of dollars the company donates to various political parties, politicians, caucuses, and pet causes in the state.

EnergySolutions spread around $500,000 among 80 percent of the state Legislature last year. In addition, the company also has an impressive stable of professional lobbyists working Capitol Hill in order to advance its agenda. It’s also running a series of TV advertisements featuring CEO Steve Creamer discussing the generous ways in which the company will share the proceeds of foreign nuclear waste with the people of Utah.

The question we need to ask ourselves now is how much are our children worth? What price tag are we willing to place on our heritage, our environment, and our future? Apparently EnergySolutions has determined that $1.5 billion should be enough, and there are members of the Utah Legislature that agree. These legislators, elected to represent the best interests of the people of Utah, are preparing legislation to be ready to go as soon as they make the right deal with EnergySolutions.

Fortunately for Utah, Gov. Huntsman has stated in no uncertain terms that he will veto any action by the Legislature to allow foreign nuclear waste to be disposed of in Utah. Also expressing opposition to this ridiculous notion is Rep. Jim Matheson.

Now we are faced with a choice: Do we allow this corporation to bribe us all into ignoring the potential environmental and health issues associated with importing foreign nuclear waste into Utah? EnergySolutions cannot be allowed to turn Utah into the world’s toxic waste dump. The people of Utah, and of Tooele County in particular, need to stand up and be counted on this issue. We need to show EnergySolutions and our elected officials that our land and our heritage are more important than the 30 pieces of silver we are being offered to forsake it.

I have started an online petition against importing foreign nuclear waste at www.ipetitions.com/petition/foreignwaste/index.html, and I encourage everyone to read it and add their signatures. The only hope we have of fighting the money that EnergySolutions is committing to this effort is to stand strong and unified, and to make our voices heard. Tooele County is not the world’s toxic dumping ground. Our heritage, our environment, and most importantly, our integrity are not for sale.

Bob Henline is a Tooele resident and political activist. He can be reached at bob@nonpart.org.