RES-2001-096 Resolution in support of Security Enhancement related to Shearon Harris Power Plant

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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 I 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;