Orange County NC Website
8 <br /> public health risk that the Shearon Harris Plant posses to <br /> citizens in Orange County. She referred to a worst possible <br /> scenario and illustrated the magnitude of treating just one <br /> patient. She expressed her biggest fear is the long-term <br /> effects of radiation and gave several examples. She feels the <br /> hospital facilities is this area are not adequate to handle <br /> contaminated patients. She expressed concerns about the water <br /> becoming contaminated and the associated problems. <br /> DOUG CRAWFORD expressed concerns about the uncertainties of <br /> the effects of low level radiation and the problematic risks <br /> that follow nuclear accidents. This should be addressed <br /> before the problem can actually be determined and studied. <br /> JOE HERTZENBERG spoke against the nuclear power plant. He <br /> spoke about the integrity of the democratic process, the <br /> integrity of the representative government and the integrity <br /> of the processes of the political party. He pointed out that <br /> the democratic party is against the starting up of the Shearon <br /> Harris Nuclear Plant. <br /> RICHARD WHITTED asked that both resolutions presented by CASH <br /> be considered for adoption. He noted that everyone needs to <br /> be concerned about an evacuation plan. Orange County needs to <br /> know if their is an evacuation plan and if it is effective <br /> enough that the citizens can feel safe. He asked that CP&L be <br /> requested to consider an alternative to nuclear power. <br /> KIRSTEN NYROP made reference to the resolutions that were <br /> approved by Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Hillsborough in which <br /> requests were made to include the municipalities in the evacu- <br /> ation plan and to ask CP&L to consider converting Shearon <br /> Harris to nonnuclear fuel. She spoke about the costs <br /> associated with not starting up the plant or converting the <br /> plant to nonnuclear fuel. She also reviewed the costs <br /> associated with the start-up of the plant that would be saved. <br /> She question the dollar value assigned to the quality of life <br /> of the citizens in the surrounding counties as they worry and <br /> wonder if their will be an accident at Shearon Harris or an <br /> accident in transporting materials to and from the plant. She <br /> asked if the safety of the citizens can be guaranteed. <br /> CAROLINA POWER AND LIGHT <br /> EDWARD LILLY, Executive Vice-President of CP&L, made comments <br /> about the Shearon Harris Plant and nuclear power in general. <br /> He stated that in order to have adequate energy nuclear power <br /> must be utilized. He spoke about the costs of construction <br /> and indicated that nuclear fuel is less expensive than coal or <br /> oil. He expounded on the safety of nuclear plants. He talked <br /> about the effects of radiation on the body and stated that <br /> less than 5 mg a year would be picked up during a year by <br /> someone living next door to a nuclear plant. He stated that no <br /> one has been killed or seriously injured in the U.S. from the <br /> operation of nuclear plants. CP&L cannot guarantee that no <br /> accident will happen. They can guarantee that no accident <br /> will happen similar to that one at Chernobyl because the <br /> nuclear plants are built differently than those in other <br /> countries. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Atomic <br /> Safety and Licensing Board have reviewed allegations and have <br /> said in their opinion, the plant can be operated without any <br /> undue risk to the public and recommended that the license be <br /> issued for the operation of the plant. To convert to some <br />