PAYETTE, Idaho -- Jan 28 - Deseret News (Salt Lake City)

Elected officials in southwest Idaho say they've been told plans for a proposed nuclear power plant have been abandoned.

Emmett Republican Sen. Brad Little says MidAmerican Nuclear Energy, the Iowa company studying locating a plant on 3,000 acres near the Paddock Valley Reservoir, told local consultants they were pulling out.

MidAmerican officials could not be reached for comment Sunday.

Other elected officials confirm Little's account that they were told by MidAmerican officials the company was dropping out of the deal because of financial and other concerns.

Little and others say some residents had concerns over waste management, safety and community and environmental impact.

The legislators say MidAmerican plan an announcement this week.

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