The Skull Valley Goshute and Nuclear Waste: Rhetorical Analysis of Claims-Making of Opponents and Proponents
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Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 5-2004 The Skull Valley Goshute and Nuclear Waste: Rhetorical Analysis of Claims-Making of Opponents and Proponents Jesse T. Weiss Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd Part of the Sociology Commons Recommended Citation Weiss, Jesse T., "The Skull Valley Goshute and Nuclear Waste: Rhetorical Analysis of Claims-Making of Opponents and Proponents" (2004). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 1990. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/1990 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE SKULL V ALLEY GOSHUTE AND NUCLEAR WASTE: RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF CLAIMS-MAKING by Jesse T. Weiss A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY III Sociology Aooroved: \ I Richard S. Kr:iI1lfich GqMadsen Major Professor Committee Member..... JeDJfiter Peeples rnnun ittAM'fv{pm hPrl Peggy Ptttic!lka v \~rens H. SrW"ith, Jr. Committee Member li1terim Dean of Graduate Studies UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2004 -- ----- -----------------~ II ABSTRACT The Skull Valley Goshute and Nuclear Waste: Rhetorical Analysis of Claims-Making of Opponents and Proponents by Jesse T. Weiss, Doctor of Philosophy Utah State University, 2004 Major Professor: Dr. Richard S. Krannich Department: Sociology, Social Work, & Anthropology One of the greatest challenges to modem society is the management and disposal of hazardous by-products that have accompanied the industrial advances of the twentieth century. One of the most difficult by-products to deal with has been radioactive waste. Previous research has shown that due to the real and perceived risks associated with this type of waste, the burden of storing said waste has fallen on minority communities, including Native American groups. This research examines the proposed temporary nuclear waste storage facility to be located on the Skull Valley Indian Reservation in Utah. Using an ethnographic case study approach, this research examines the claims- making activities of opponents and proponents involved in this information campaign. Of specific interest is the rhetoric that each of these groups employ in an attempt to establish iii a regime of truth. This research focuses on the prominent rhetorical themes and tactics used by the stakeholder groups vying for supremacy and public acceptance. (165 pages) IV ACKNOWLEDGMENTS There are many people that I want to acknowledge and thank for the help and guidance throughout the process of completing this project. First and foremost, r need to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for strengthening and guiding me throughout my life. r want to acknowledge my wonderful wife, Rolli, who has been a constant support and a source of motivation and purpose. Without her in my life, r would have turned back from this path long ago. To my daughter Karson, who was born in the middle of this project, thank you for the joy and love that you bring to my life. You have been a great source of happiness for your daddy. r want to thank my family for always being strong for me and giving me great advice. To my parents, Tim and Bobbi, you are a great source of inspiration and motivation. Your own experience with higher education has been an invaluable resource for me. Without both of your help I could never have completed this. You both are greatly appreciated. To my brothers and sister, thank you for your help and friendship. One of the greatest things in my life is the close relationship that I have with each of you. Karma, Casey, and T.J., you are the best friends a man could have. r would also like to thank the members of the research team who worked hard throughout this project to collect and analyze data. Rick, Jen, and J.D. have each given me great advice and guidance throughout this process. Likewise, my committee members have been an invaluable source of advice and have enabled me to complete this project. Thank you Doug, Gary, and Peg for your patience and guidance. v Finally, I want to thank all of the individuals in the sociology department for their friendship and their help. Pat, LuAnn, Kathy, and Ann have each helped me along this path whether it was helping me with the copy machine or giving me a computer disk. I will miss all of you when my time at Utah State University is finished. I also want to thank each and every person who participated in the various interviews that made this research possible. Jesse T. Weiss VI CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ........................................................................................... .ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ......................................................................... .iv CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION .................................................................. 1 IMPORTANCE AND PURPOSE OF THE STUDy ...................... 7 CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE STUDy ....................................... 8 OUTLINE OF THE STUDY ................................................ 10 II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK.............................................. 12 SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIONISM ........................................... 12 Social Construction of Nature ................................................. 16 Discourse and Rhetoric .................................................. 19 Landscapes as Claims-Making .........................................22 Myth Making ............................................................. 24 DISCIPLINARY CONTEXT ................................................25 Natural Resource Dependence .......................................... 28 Consequences of Resource Dependence ............................... 32 Difficulties in Native American Economic Development. ......... 35 Native Americans and Gaming ......................................... 37 Native Americans and Hazardous Waste .............................. 39 Environmental Racism and Justice ................................... .41 RESEARCH GOALS AND QUESTIONS ............................... .43 III STUDY SETTING .............................................................. .46 RESEARCH APPROACH ...................................................... 53 RESEARCH DESIGN ............................................................ 57 STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS OF THE APPROACH ............... 63 IV RESULTS AND DISCUSSION ................................................ 67 VB THE PROPONENTS ............................................................. 68 The Skull Valley Goshute ...............................................68 Private Fuel Storage, L.L.c. (PFS) .................................... 69 Proponent Scientists ...................................................... 69 Tooele County Representatives ........................................ 70 THE OPPONENTS ............................................................... 71 The Skull Valley Goshute ............................................... 71 Representatives of "White" Environmental Groups .................. 72 Other Native American Groups .......................................... 73 Elected Officials of Salt Lake City and Utah ......................... 75 Utah Residents ............................................................ 75 RHETORICAL THEMES AND TACTICS ................................... 76 Proponent Themes ....................................................... 79 Risk ............................................................... 79 Trust. .............................................................. 84 Nuclear Technology Practices and Policy ................... 94 Racism and Justice .............................................. 98 Opponent Themes ............................................. , ........ 102 Legal. ........................................................... 103 Risk ............................................................. .l07 Trust ............................................................. 115 Racism and Justice ............................................. 125 Nuclear Technology Practices and Policy .................. 128 V CONCLUSIONS ................................................................ .133 NRC LICENSING AND TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY ...................... 135 ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM ................................................ 139 NIMBy ........................................................................... 142 ENVIRONMENTAL mSTICE MOVEMENT ............................. 145 FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS .............................................. .l47 REFERENCES .............................................................................. 149 APPENDIX ................................................................................... 159 CURRICULUM VITAE .................................................................... 164 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION One of the greatest challenges to modem society is the management and disposal of the hazardous by-products that have come with the industrial advances ofthe twentieth century. One ofthe most difficult by-products to deal with has been radioactive waste. For reasons associated with the actual as well as the perceived risks of such waste, policy makers in the U.S. have been unable to adequately manage the growing tonnage of radioactive waste produced