Governor Otter’s recent agreement with the U.S. Energy Department allows commercial interests to transport 50 spent nuclear fuel rods to the Idaho National Laboratory over the next 10 months. Former governors Phil Batt and Cecil Andrus, suing under the auspicious of the National Environmental Policy Act, are challenging Otter’s agreement.

In 1995, then-Governor Batt reached an agreement with the energy department with a timetable to totally rid INL — and Idaho — of nuclear fuel by 2035. Otter claims that he is not “doing anything less than protecting Idaho under the terms of the 1995 settlement agreement.” In my view, Otter’s agreement adds to the problem and, in effect, repeals Batt’s hard-fought 1995 effort.

I also think there is something to Governor Batt’s belief that the 50 spent nuclear rods are “just the beginning.” Batt’s qualms are particularly relevant in light of the uncertain future of Yucca Mountain, Nev., the site constructed and designated as the permanent repository for all of the nation’s spent nuclear fuel. Approximately 79,000 tons of nuclear waste are in temporary storage facilities looking for some place to go.

I think Governor Otter should explain to the citizens of Idaho how exactly permitting more nuclear waste is going to protect us, and he should address the concerns raised by Batt and Andrus about the potential contamination of the underlying Eastern Snake River Aquifer, which would make the region’s economy and ecosystem useless for thousands of years.

The Batt-Andrus lawsuit is indeed timely. The stakes are very high.

RICH LEVENGOOD

Moscow