HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2001-096 Resolution in support of Security Enhancement related to Shearon Harris Power Plant 4,0„rifv of
STEPHENH.HALK/OT/S,CHAIR ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BARRYJACOBS, VICE CHAIR
MARGARET W.BROWN POST OFFICE BOX 8 181
MOSES M.GORDON
AL/CE M GOR 200 SOUTH CAMERON STREET
HILLSBOROUGH, NORTH CAROLINA 272781
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I, Beverly A. Blythe, Clerk of the County of Orange, North
Carolina, hereby certify that the attached is a true and correct
copy of"A Resolution in Support of Risk Reduction and Security
Enhancement Related to the Use, Transport, and Storage of
Nuclear Materials at the Shearon Harris Power Plant" adopted
by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners on
November 7, 2001.
This the 8th day of November, 2001.
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County Clerk
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www,co_oran e.nc_us
Protecting and preserving—People, Resources, Quality of Life
Orange County, North Carolina—You Count!
(9 19)245-2130 . FAX(919)644-0246
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF RISK REDUCTION AND SECURITY j
ENHANCEMENT RELATED TO THE USE, TRANSPORT, AND STORAGE OF
NUCLEAR MATERIALS
AT THE SHEARON HARRIS POWER PLANT
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WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of Commissioners has a long and well-
established practice of advocating for greater public involvement in the decision-making
process about the use, shipment, and storage of nuclear materials that could have
devastatingly adverse consequences for hundreds of thousands of central North
Carolina residents in the event of natural or man-made disasters; and
WHEREAS, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States have
provided ample reason for thoughtful people to reconsider the accepted definition of
what kinds of disasters are "reasonably foreseeable"; and
WHEREAS, a terrorist attack on the Shearon Harris nuclear facility could result in
catastrophic release of radiation that could kill or incapacitate countless North Carolina
residents and poison the environment long into the future; and
WHEREAS, news reports indicate that Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge has
encouraged State governors to increase police presence at nuclear facilities and that
governors in at least seven states have ordered National Guard personnel to duty to
enhance security; and
WHEREAS, Carolina Power& Light continues to transport high level nuclear waste
between plants, thereby unnecessarily creating potential targets of opportunity for
persons of evil intent; and
WHEREAS, contingency plans for protective and remedial actions and for evacuations
from areas other than those in the immediate vicinity of the Harris plant appear to be
limited, generally untested, and not well-publicized; and
WHEREAS, there are feasible measures to decrease the likelihood for attacks, including
cessation of nuclear waste transports and a halt to increasing the stockpile of nuclear
waste at Shearon Harris; and
WHEREAS, there are feasible measures that could prevent or dramatically reduce the
potential consequences in case of attacks, including use of dry storage of waste and
lower density racking if cooling pools are used; and
WHEREAS, protection of public health and safety is a responsibility that must be shared
by CP&L; local, state, and federal officials; and the public;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Orange County Board of
Commissioners does hereby support the minimization of risks associated with potential
terrorist attacks at Shearon Harris and other regional nuclear facilities to the maximum
extent possible; and does hereby support measures that would decrease the
attractiveness of nuclear facilities as potential targets, decrease the potential loss of life
in the event of attack, and upgrade evacuation and emergency response planning and
resources; and;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Orange County Board of Commissioners does
hereby urge the Governor to deploy National Guard forces, as has been done in at least
seven other states, to increase the level of security at regional nuclear facilities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Orange County Board of Commissioners does
hereby urge that CP & L be required to share in the burden of costs of initiating these
and other safety measures.
This, the 7th day of November, 2001.
Stephen H. Halkiotis, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
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