This page was last updated on December 17, 2012.
Who is accountable?; Celia M. Janosik; Beaver County Times; December 12, 2012.
As background, Ms. Janosik signed an online petition to impeach Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett less than two months after he took office. A previous Janosik letter I critiqued is here.
On Beaver County Reds (aka Beaver County Blue), Ms. Janosik wrote, “Raise the top tax rate to 70% as in Eisenhowers day. That should make a little difference to the debt.” You can find my comments on the Facebook version of The Bird’s Eye View (11/16/12).
Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.
“How many people are paying attention to hydro-fracking for natural gas one mile from the Shippingport nuclear power plant?”
[RWC] This is at least the second anti-Marcellus letter from Ms. Janosik. It’s all about the religion of manmade global warming. I didn’t waste my time checking all of the letter’s assertions, so be sure to check them yourself if you want to use them.
“Why is this happening? There are no regulations not to. The only requirement is a 500 foot setback and there many leases existing in the area. The NRC only controls within in its fences. I find this astounding.
“What happens if methane migrates to an abandoned mine and a fire/explosion occurs? What effects do seismic testing and multiple fracked wells have on the stability of the area? Remember Center Township? How about deep injection wells that are known to cause earthquakes as those in nearby Youngstown? We have an injection well close by across the Ohio River. Not to mention Little Blue and millions of gallons of toxic fly ash held back by an earthen dam.”
[RWC] What about Center Township? It’s possible Ms. Janosik is referring to Center Twp. in Columbiana County, OH. Whether or not it turns out to be legal, trustees for Center Twp. in Columbiana County “voted unanimously … in favor of a resolution that will ban the installation and operation of injection wells within the township’s limits.”
“Beaver Valley Unit No. 1 is ranked fifth-most vulnerable nuclear reactor in the USA. The NRC has not carried out a seismic study since 1979 and did not include hydro-fracking.”
[RWC] According to a BCT story, “Beaver Valley Unit 1 has a 1 in 21,739 chance of suffering core damage from an earthquake each year.” The most powerful earthquake among “those in nearby [about 34 miles ‘as the crow flies’] Youngstown” was 4.0 on the Richter scale. According to the BCT, “A statement from First Energy said the Beaver Valley site - which includes two nuclear reactors – ‘is capable of withstanding at least a 5.8 Richter scale magnitude of earthquake.’” A 5.8 earthquake is over 500 times more powerful than a 4.0 quake. The story says, “The strongest recorded earthquake in Pennsylvania, according to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, measured 5.2 on the Richter scale. It was centered near Pymatuning Reservoir in Crawford County, Pa., and Ashtabula County, Ohio, and struck in September 1998.” A 5.8 quake is about eight times more powerful than a 5.2 quake.
As for “The NRC has not carried out a seismic study since 1979,” the story says, “NRC ‘seismic hazard estimates’ were revised in 2010.”
“The international-sized cracker plant added to the mix presents a volatile situation. Who wants to be held accountable? Political leaders swear to protect us and the NRC, Pa. DEP, etc. use our tax money. Do your job.”
[RWC] What does “international-sized” mean? Is that like getting your fries super-sized?
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