Terrorist Threats At Limerick Pose Catastrophic Risks

Terrorist Threats At Limerick Pose Catastrophic Risks

ACE wants a safer future for you and your family.

A 2013 Defense Department analysis said NO U.S. nuclear plant is protected against terrorist attacks, and all pose catastrophic risks.

We can avoid a Limerick Nuclear Plant catastrophe if our elected officials and government agencies stop dodging the harsh reality of risk and take action.

To insure a safer future we must transition to safer energy immediately, and close Limerick now before a terrorist attack triggers a meltdown which can be caused by loss of power and/or water.

Millions of people would suffer irreparable health harms from Limerick’s radioactive plume contaminating everything.

We would be financially ruined and permanently displaced. It’s insanity to allow that kind of unnecessary risk to continue.

After 9/11, ACE started investigating Limerick’s vulnerabilities to terrorism, plus security and evacuation problems. For details: www.acereport.org #13 “Terrorists Threats: Precaution Is Inadequate” and Video Blog Series 1-8. The reality is alarming. It’s not fear-mongering to report it in hope of prevention.

On July 30, 2014, the Mercury printed Evan Brandt’s article, “NRC Mum about Security Problem at Limerick Nuclear Plant”. It’s unacceptable for NRC to withhold information about risks from those who would be most impacted by the consequences.

For a year following 9/11, taxpayers paid for Limerick’s air defense. Since then, NRC refused to require Exelon to pay for that, despite extraordinary risks from terrorists’ planes or missiles.. If a plane or missile crashed into a fuel pool, it could result in loss of water, meltdown, and fire.

One expert reported that a fuel pool fire could cause fatal radiation-induced cancer in thousands of people as far as 500 miles from the site. “Spent fuel” rods (among the deadliest materials on earth) are jam packed in Limerick’s extremely vulnerable fuel pools, constructed with substandard cement and without extra containment walls. Like Fukushima’s, they’re directly above Limerick’s reactors.
.
On September 24, 2014, a PBS documentary, “Cyber Security, Rise of the Hackers”, revealed the reality of high-stakes cyber attacks. For example: the Stuxnet virus targeted an Iranian nuclear plant in 2010, destroying over 1,000 centrifuges before detection. Stuxnet, capable of spreading, could be a blueprint for cyber attacks on U.S. nuclear plants. Even a cyber attack on the grid could lead to extended loss of power and water, triggering meltdowns at Limerick.

Limerick security and NRC oversight are so lax that an Al-Qaida suspect worked undetected for 5 years (2002-2007) during Limerick re-fueling.

Inexplicably, in 2012, even after lessons from Fukushima, NRC pared down emergency evacuation planning for radiation exposure after meltdowns.

Nearly 8 million people live within 50 miles of Limerick, the evacuation zone that NRC recommended after Fukushima. Millions of people, in all directions, would suffer health harms, financial ruin, and permanent displacement, while Exelon would be liable for only a tiny fraction of the estimated one trillion dollar cost.

We can’t evacuate safely! No workable evacuation plan exists. Escape routes would be completely gridlocked.

The Montgomery County Planning Commission and the Department of Safety both warned NRC about inadequate infrastructure to support safe evacuation. Where would everyone go, with Philadelphia just over 20 miles downwind and downstream from Limerick?

The price of ignoring the public’s health and financial risks are incalculable, yet almost all our elected and agency officials have displayed callous disregard for the extraordinary terrorist threats we face related to Limerick Nuclear Plant and our future.

We can’t afford to elect more politicians like Tom Quigley, who took contributions from Exelon and publicly supported Limerick relicensing until 2049, despite ACE repeatedly informing him of irrefutable catastrophic risks, including terrorism.

Before voting 11-4-14, ask each candidate if they will help close Limerick now to protect your family.

We also encourage you to review just released 2013-2014 environmental voting records of PA state senators and representatives at www.conservationpa.org.

 

Elected Officials Must Take Action To Protect Us From Limerick’s Harms Or Be Voted Out of Office

 

 ELECTED OFFICIALS MUST TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT US FROM LIMERICK

NUCLEAR PLANT THREATS OR BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE

WE ARE AT A CROSSROAD!  AT STAKE:
PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND FINANCIAL INTERESTS

 

  • Limerick Is Destroying Vital Drinking Water Resources
  • Limerick’s Radioactive Air Releases Add To Cancer And Other Health Risks
  • Limerick Systems Are Rapidly Aging, Corroding, and Increasingly Dangerous
  • There Is No Safe Solution For Limerick’s Deadly Radioactive Wastes
  • There Is No Safe Way To Evacuate Our Densely Populated Region If Limerick Has A Major Radiation Accident or Meltdown
  • Meltdown Risks Are Increasing!  Millions Could Lose Everything!  That Can Be Avoided If Limerick Closes Now. 

    ACE REPEATEDLY INFORMED ELECTED OFFICIALS

  1. In 2011, your officials failed to speak on the Limerick Relicensing public hearing record
  2. In 2012, your officials failed to speak on the public hearing record to protect our drinking water
  3. In 2013, your officials failed to speak on the record about Limerick’s environmental impacts

    ELECTED OFFICIALS’ SILENCE IS UNACCEPTABLE:

  • SILENCE ALLOWS THREATS AND HARMS TO INCREASE
  • SILENCE CONDONES NRC REGULATORY NEGLIGENCE
  • SILENCE PROTECTS EXELON PROFITS AT OUR EXPENSE

    ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO DON’T SPEAK UP NOW

    SHOULD BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE!

    TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND FINANCIAL INTERESTS,

    LIMERICK NUCLEAR PLANT MUST CLOSE NOW:

  • Stop Limerick’s Radiation Releases Into Our Air and Water
  • Stop Depletion and Overheating of the Schuylkill River, The Vital Drinking Water Resource For Almost 2 Million People, Pottstown to Philadelphia
  • Stop Deadly Radioactive Waste Production. There Is NO SAFE SOLUTION!
  • Reduce Need to Evacuate.  We Can’t Evacuate Safely!
  • Reduce Meltdown Threats That Could Render The Entire Philadelphia Region Uninhabitable.  Millions Could Lose Everything They Own

    ELECTED OFFICIALS’ VOICES MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE!

    NUCLEAR PLANTS ARE CLOSING WHERE ELECTED OFFICIALS SPEAK UP

  • Nuclear Plants In California and Vermont Are Closing, In Large Part Because Their Elected Officials, Including State and U.S. Senators, As Well As Governors Spoke Out Against Risks And Harms To The Public From Their Nuclear Plants
  • In New York, Officials, Including Governor Andrew Cuomo and State Senators Have Pushed For Closure Of Indian Point, Citing Its Location Near A Major Population Center
  • Only U.S. Senator Bob Casey Expressed Public Concern About Evacuation Feasibility 

    YOUR VOICE AND VOTE ARE NEEDED 

    TELL FAMILY, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, AND ELECTED OFFICIALS WHAT IS AT RISK

    FOR DETAILS ON LIMERICK NUCLEAR PLANT’S THREATS AND HARMS

    WWW.ACEREPORT.ORG

  • TELL LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS YOU PLAN TO HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE IN THE VOTING BOOTH FOR THEIR FAILURE TO SPEAK UP TO PROTECT YOUR FUTURE.

DECADES AGO ELECTED OFFICIALS FAILED TO SPEAK UP

NOW WE FACE LIMERICK’S UNPRECEDENTED THREATS AND HARMS

 

PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY SERIOUSLY JEOPARDIZED!

Limerick Nuclear Plant’s Devastating Assault On The Schuylkill River Is Slowly Destroying This Vital Drinking Water Resource For Almost Two Million People From Pottstown to Philadelphia. 

  • Elected Officials Knew Before Limerick Was Licensed That The Schuylkill River Could Not Sustain Limerick Nuclear Plant operations. They Also Knew Limerick Would Radiate and Overheat The River, Jeopardizing Public Health and The Ecosystem.
  • ELECTED OFFICIALS FAILED TO SPEAK UP IN THE 1970S AND 1980S TO STOP AVOIDABLE DESTRUCTION OF THIS VITAL PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY.
  • By 1999 The River Reached Record Low Flows. Limerick’s Cooling Tower Depletion Was A Major Factor.  By 2003, Exelon Asked To  Reduce and Eliminate Requirements In Place To Protect The River Water and to  Pump Massive Amounts of Toxic Unfiltered Mine Waster Into The River To Supplement The Flow To Operate Limerick.
  • AT THE 2012 PUBLIC HEARING, ONLY ONE LOCAL OFFICIAL, MICHAEL MOYER, OPPOSED LIMERICK’S UNPRECEDENTED THREATS AND HARMS TO PUBLIC DRINKING WATER.RADIOACTIVE WASTES THREATEN UNTHINKABLE DISASTER
  • There Is NO SAFE SOLUTION.
  • Transporting It Offsite Is Too Dangerous Due To Accidents and Terrorist Attacks
  • Storing It In Limerick’s Corroded and Thinning Fuel Pools Makes It Vulnerable To Devastating Meltdowns From Accidents or Terrorist Attacks 
  • The Only Solution – STOP MAKING IT. 
  • Until That Happens, We Must Store Existing Wastes On Site SAFER – In Above Ground Casks
  • ACE Repeatedly Informed Elected Officials About Extreme Threats We Face From Limerick’s Radioactive Waste Storage and Transport.   ACE Also Repeatedly Requested Officials To Comment to NRC In Support Of Recommended Actions For NRC’s Radioactive Waste Study
  • NOT ONE ELECTED OFFICIAL TOOK  ACTION TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC’S HEALTH, SAFETY, AND FINANCIAL INTERESTS RELATED TO LIMERICK’S LETHAL HIGH-LEVEL RADCIOACTIVE WASTES.SAFE  EVACUATION NOT POSSIBLE!
  • In 1980, Before Limerick’s Construction, NRC Admitted The Region Within 30 Miles Of Limerick Had Double The Population That Could Be Evacuated Safely
  • IN 1980 ELECTED OFFICIALS REMAINED SILENT AND ALLOWED  LIMERICK NUCLEAR PLANT CONSTRUCTION TO CONTINUE.
  • At The Same Time, In The 1980s, Based On Population Density and Impossible Safe Evacuation, New York Elected Officials Opposed Shoreham Nuclear Plant
  • NEW YORK OFFICIALS OPPOSED SHOREHAM NUCLEAR PLANT BASED ON INABILITY TO EVACUATE SAFELY.  SHOREHAM WAS CLOSED.
  • By 2010, Population Density Around Limerick Nuclear Plant Skyrocketed Over 4 Times Higher Than Could Evacuate Safely.
  • OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS STILL REMAIN SILENT ABOUT OUR INABILITY TO SAFELY EVACUATE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF U.S. SENATOR BOB CASEY. 
  • Only Michael Moyer, an East Coventry Supervisor, had the courage and integrity to speak out on  behalf of public interests at the public hearing to relicense Limerick Nuclear Plant.LIMERICK’S RADIOACTIVE RELEASES INCREASE CANCER RATES, INFANT MORTALITY, AND OTHER DISEASES AND DISABILITIES. 

    HEALTH THREATS WILL CONTINUE AND INCREASE AS LONG AS LIMERICK OPERATES

  • Since 1985 Limerick released unknown amounts of radiation into our air, water, soil, food, milk, fish and bodies.  
  • Evidence of harm is clear.  Skyrocketing cancers have been documented since Limerick started operating, especially in children.  Infant and neonatal mortality rates became far higher than the state average, and even higher than Philadelphia and Reading.
  • The best way to reduce cancer rates and other health problems is to close Limerick to reduce radioactive releases into our air and water.
  • NOT ONE STATE OR FEDERAL OFFICIAL ATTENDED THE PUBLIC HEARING TO ASK NRC NOT TO RELICENSE LIMERICK, MUCH LESS TO CLOSE IT NOW TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND FINANCIAL INTERESTS.  SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUES ARE BEING IGNORED BY ELECTED OFFICIALS
  • Earthquake Faults – Under Limerick site.  4 others within 17 Miles
  • Reactors May Not Be Able To Shut Down To Prevent Meltdowns
  • Limerick Follows Lax Fire Safety Regulations
  • Substandard Cement in Reactors and Fuel Pools
  • Fuel Pools Corroding and Thinning At Rates 10 Times Faster Than Anticipated
  • Fuel Rods Taken From Pools Years Before Sufficient Cooling Tim

    CALL  OR  E-MAIL

    ELECTED OFFICIALS TODAY

    URGE THEM TO SPEAK OUT

    TO CLOSE LIMERICK NUCLEAR PLANT

    TO PROTECT

    YOUR HEALTH, SAFETY, AND FINANCIAL INTERESTS

     

    Contact as many elected officials as possible! 

    The list below does not include all elected officials who represent residents impacted by Limerick Nuclear Plant operations, but it is important for you to contact any elected official with constituents within 50 miles of Limerick Nuclear Plant.

    Governor Tom Corbett  (R)

    225 Main Capitol Building
    Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120

    Phone: (717) 787-2500     Fax: (717) 772-8284

    governor@state.pa.us

    High Street, Suite 100
    U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R)
    8 Penn Center
    1628 John F. Kennedy Blvd. Suite 1702
    Philadelphia, PA 19103

    Phone: (215) 241-1090    Fax: (215) 241-1095

    mitch_vidovich@toomey.senate.gov   

     

    U.S. Senator Bob Casey  (D)

    2000 Market Street, Suite 1870
    Philadelphia, PA 19103

    Phone: (215) 405-9660  Fax: (215) 405-9669

    kurt_imhof@casey.senate.gov    

  • U. S. Congressman James Gerlach  (R)580 Main Street, Suite 4

    Trappe, PA 19246

    Phone   (610) 409-2780     Fax (610) 409-7988

    scott.savett@mail.house.gov

    U.S. Congressman Charles W. Dent  (R) PA-15

    701 W. Broad Street, Suite 200

    Bethlehem, PA   18018

    Phone (610) 861-9734            Fax (610) 861-9308   

    vincent.odomski@mail.house.gov

     

    U.S. Congressman Pat Meehan   (R)

    940 Sproul Road
    Springfield, PA 19064

    Phone: (610) 690-7323     Fax: (610) 690-7329

    Andrew.Colket@mail.house.gov 

    U. S. Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz  (D) PA-13

    Montgomery County Office
    706 West Avenue
    Jenkintown, PA 19046

    Phone–215/517-6572        Fax–215/517-6575

    Michelle.Espinal@mail.house.gov

     

    PA Senator John Rafferty  (R)Montgomery County

    Montgomery County Office
    3818 Germantown Pike, Suite B
    Collegeville, PA 19426

    Ph: 610-831-8830       FAX: 610-831-8837
    jrafferty@pasen.gov

    jmunera@pasen.gov 

    PA Senator Andrew E. Dinniman  (D)– Chester County

    One North Church Street
    West Chester, PA 19380

    (610) 692-2112           Fax  (610) 436-1721

    andydinniman@pasenate.com

    MINDARS@pasenate.com

     

    PA Senator Judith Schwank(D)   Berks County

    1940 North 13th Street
    Suite 232
    Reading, PA 19604

    (610) 929-2151   FAX: (610) 929-2576

    Jschwank@pasenate.com 

    PA Senator David G. Argall  (R)   Schuylkill County

    One West Centre Street
    Mahanoy City, PA 17948

    (570) 773-0891

    Dargall@pasen.gov

     

    PA Representative Tim Hennessey  (R)

    Old Elverson Train Station
    P.O. Box 255
    Elverson, PA 19520

    Phone: 610-286-9194               Fax: 610-286-1922
    thenness@pahousegop.com

    PA Representative Mike Vereb  (R)

    3950 Germantown Pike. Suite 101
    Collegeville, PA 19426

    Phone: (610) 409-2615      Fax: (610) 409-2619

    mvereb@pahousegop.com

     

    PA Representative Mark Painter (D)

    600 Heritage Drive, Suite 102

    Sanatoga, PA  19464

    Phone (610) 326-9563   Fax (610) 718-5787

    mpainter@pahouse.net  

  • PA Representative Becky Corbin (R) 315 Gordon Drive
    Exton, PA, 19341

    Phone: (610) 524-5595           Fax: (610) 524-5667

    bcorbin@pahousegop.com