Orange County NC Website
5. RESOLUTIONSIPROCLAMATIONS -NONE <br />ADDED ITEM <br />a. Nuclear Facilit Risk Reduction and Security Enhancement <br />Chair Halkiotis asked that the County Commissioners consider adopting a resolution calling <br />far increased security and risk reduction related to the use, shipment, and storage of nuclear materials <br />associated with the Shearon Harris nuclear power plant in Wake County. He asked Jahn Link to check <br />with Durham County to find out about the resolution that was passed regarding this issue. <br />Commissioner Gordon said that it is very important that Orange County have a reasonable <br />evacuation plan. <br />Commissioner Brown wants to make sure that this resolution is sent to the Director of <br />Emergency Management, the Head of the School of Public Health, and the Director of Public Health for <br />the state, the FBI Director at the state, and Congressman Price. <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Jacobs, seconded by Commissioner Brown to approve <br />the resolution as stated below: <br />A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF RISK REDUCTION AND SECURITY <br />ENHANCEMENT RELATED TO THE USE, TRANSPORT, AND STORAGE OF <br />NUCLEAR MATERIALS <br />AT THE SHEARON HARRIS POWER PLANT <br />WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of Commissioners has a long and well-established practice of <br />advocating for greater public involvement in the decision-making process about the use, shipment, and <br />storage of nuclear materials that could have devastatingly adverse consequences for hundreds of <br />thousands of central North Carolina residents in the event of natural or man-made disasters; and <br />WHEREAS, the September 11, 2441 terrorist attacks on the United States have provided ample reason <br />for thoughtful people to reconsider the accepted definition of what kinds of disasters are "reasonable <br />foreseeable": and <br />WHEREAS, a terrorist attack on the Shearon Harris nuclear facility could result in catastrophic release of <br />radiation that could kill or incapacitate countless North Carolina residents and poison the environment <br />long into the future; and <br />WHEREAS, news reports indicate that Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge has encouraged State <br />governors to increase police presence at nuclear facilities and that governors in at least seven states <br />have ordered National Guard personnel to duty to enhance security; and <br />WHEREAS, Carolina Power & Light continues to transport high level nuclear waste between plants, <br />thereby unnecessarily creating potential targets of opportunity for persons of evil intent; and <br />WHEREAS, contingency plans for protective and remedial actions and for evacuations from areas other <br />than those in the immediate vicinity of the Harris plant appear to be limited, generally untested, and not <br />well-publicized; and <br />WHEREAS, there are feasible measures to decrease the likelihood for attacks, including cessation of <br />nuclear waste transports and a half to increasing the stockpile of nuclear waste at Shearon Harris; and <br />WHEREAS, there are feasible measures that could prevent or dramatically reduce the potential <br />consequences in case of attacks, including use of dry storage of waste and lower density racking if <br />cooling pools are used; and <br />WHEREAS, protection of public health and safety is a responsibility that must be shared by CP&L; local, <br />state, and federal officials; and the public; <br />