| PATAKI'S NO-ELECTRICITY
ZONE
New York Post
Editorial
March 25, 2003
Anyone who thinks it is possible to trigger a radiation breach
by crashing a plane into a nuclear plant just isn't dealing
with reality.
Even if that person happens to be the governor of New York.
Which is why it was a bit disconcerting, to say the least,
to hear Gov. Pataki call for a "no-fly zone" over
the Indian Point nuclear site in Westchester.
"Nuclear plants are potential targets for those who
want to disrupt and take away our freedom," Pataki said.
Well, yes: Terrorists would love to blow up a U.S. nuke plant.
Just one problem: It's all but impossible - a fact confirmed
(yet again) by the independent Electric Power Research Institute
as recently as last December.
What's so hard about it? For starters, steering a fast-moving
commercial jetliner into a target the size of a power plant
(which is smaller than, say, the World Trade Center) is like
threading a needle at 350 mph.
Even then, multiple, thick reinforced walls would withstand
the impact and prevent a radiation leak. Plus, plants have
redundant automatic-shutdown systems, abundant surveillance
and armed security forces.
Maybe that's why the FBI classifies them as "hardened"
targets. And Nuclear Regulatory Commissioner Edward McGaffigan
considers them the best protected "assets" outside
the military.
Still, Pataki - a longtime belt-and- suspenders man - argues
that "a no-fly zone would complete the security net."
Hmm. Just as the anti-Indian Point crowd tries to milk post-9/11
terror fears to shut the plant, Pataki pipes up with his scare-mongering.
At the same time, he's had hardly a word of support for Indian
Point - and refuses to certify its emergency plans. Fine.
Maybe Pataki's right. Maybe the plant is a catastrophe waiting
to happen - and should be closed. But if so, then why isn't
the gov laying out plans to replace the electricity that it
generates (about 2,000 megawatts, or about a third of the
power in the area)?
Wouldn't that be the prudent, responsible thing to do, if
Indian Point were really a concern? Of course it would.
But then, who cares about responsibility when fear-mongering
and pandering to the activists is the top priority?
For shame, Mr. Governor.
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