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Show baa Thursday, September 1, 2005 DAILY HERALD i . N Albert J. Manzi, President & Publisher Randy Wright, Executive Editor Donald W. Meyers Editorial page editor Ken Baldridge, Public adviser i | Herald Barbara Curtis, Public adviser a{ Great Momentsin Fourth ofJuly History dt hen the Departgestions when it comes to nuclear ment of Homelarid. wastestorage, and told to shut Security was “up and sit down whenit comes to formed, it was billed as a broad- transporting said waste. After ‘all, "it’s:Homeland Security personne! based agency - whotell us wecan't takenail clip- Gedicated to fighting terrorism on _* pers on airliners, yet they can't do’ our shores. anything about nuclear waste? In the largest consolidation of The NRC does have the expértise agencies since the Defense to understand issues surrounding mentwas created, the Coast Guard, nuclear waste,such as half-lives Secret Service, BorderPatrol, of various materials and how to Transportation Admincontain radiation. But when ayalid istration and other agencies were’ national security issue is raised merged into the DHS torespondto regarding et waste, should terrorism. the agency charged with But as we found out in. * aoe hreats and Utah, the department's It's protecting the ry powers aren't all that enhave more authority than compassing. DHS officials. Homeland va mereadvisor? i Utah Seat tarenew ” Private Fuel Storage's plans to store-nuclear _ Waste above ground on _ Seaivaley'SerOrme, pte RiUySaid socae the waste wit les of Salt'Lake City and Sat cy Security personnel whotell us WECAN'T take nail : » Clippers ON Intl Sept. ll, 2001, ¢hatat rangement may have been somewhatai s able. But since the terror- EndWasingtntugs have changed. Wehaye _tostart thinking ab ‘the unthinkable, and how possseniicanmatenat aifliners, yet '°iPartom: prs Pleden PO ieee Vi waste where it is, in storage pools 's a nation Ly ‘risk to ship the material % do anything from the east’ coast to ei‘ther Utah or the repository at Yuéca Mountain, Nev. b about nuclear by nuclear reactors, is a greater threat to security since the reac- DHScould’vomein and put waste? centers. Butit’s easier to Everyone hoped that the 2 a stop to PFS’ plan once, andforall, seeing that , other avenuesof appeal’ © haven't workedoutfor Utah. But DHS’poweris limitedin this area. Michelle Petrovich, DHS spokeswoman, said the department , can only make recommendations to the Nuclear Regulatory Commis- tors are near population protect the waste from a terrorist assault at a nuclear powerplant (which should be forti- fied against terrorist attacks in the first place) than it is to safeguardit while it’s rolling on the rails or highwaystoeither Utah or Nevada. It maynot hurt to amend the legislation that created DHS to ei- sion. It cannot take any regulatory ther put part of the NRC underits DHS cannot make any recommen- jurisdiction, or make DHS recommendations binding upon the NRC action. Eventhat poweris limited: dations on transportationplans, whichis the part of the nuclear wasteplan thatposes the greatest risk to the public. ‘Wehavetoask ourselves why the agency designated to deal wah the threat of terrorism withi bordersis relegated to rakingsi sug- whenit comes to the storage and transportation of nuclear waste. If we want DHStotrulyfulfill its mission of protecting Americans, shouldn't it have as muchauthority over nuclear wasteas it does nail clippers andcigarettelighters on airliners? MEDIA VOICES NewOrleansflooding a _ hational disaster storm surges hitting New Orleans and making Tuesday's horrifying scenes offlooding ever more Frbm The Baltimore Sun, Ang. 31, 2005 | f New Orleans was lucky Provo wrong to deny adults | right to e: caves, mines In the wakeofthe tragic loss of four young explorers, MayorBillings has issued pleafor residentstoaid in the sealing of any ae or mines in the surrounding mount This aonaghel,plea should be reconsidered byBillings and rejected by residents. Those ofus adults who choose to get off of the easy chair and explore this wondrous earth understand that potentially fatal risks may be involved. We certainly don't need protection from the nanny-state. Wedon't permanently close public pools because someone drowns and we certainly don’t permanently close highways dueto a fatal accident.Life is full of danger and someofus prefer to ex- poseourselvestoa little moreofit in ex- changefor feeling morealive. Besides, caves and mines provideshelter for the hearty explorerin stormy weather and often possess significant historical and educational value. ‘With the exception of open vertical mineshafts, Provo and U.S.Forest Service personnelshould just leave these features in their natural andhistorical state. It would be tragicto lose even more access to the world aroundus due to governmental confinementof public recreational activities. » MarkLees, Provo Hearall evidence before condemningrape suspects of the below-sea-level metropolis — Makeno mistake,this is a national disaster. Coastal Louisiana, the nation’s richest estuary, accounts Asthe nation Tuesday was only beginning to graspthe lethal blow that the storm dealt to Gulfport and coastal marshes. At the same time, the region'sports,the nation’s largest complex, handle 21.percentof On Aug.26,a letter was submitted “BYUrape story slanted.” The authorofthis letter-claimed she was appalled when she opened the Aug. 24 edition of the Daily Herald and was met with a sob story about a family and, in her words,an accused gang rapist. Shameonher.It is sad, indeed,to Alabama,waters suddenly began rising in the Big Easy from several breachesin itslife-sustaininglevees — submerging 80 percentof 30 percentof the oil-and natural gas delivered to the continental United States is produced in the area or transported throughit. families have already been judged beforetheir trial is completed. Deborah Rashada:is merely asking fér a fair trial. She'should be commended for her-cour- water. Though perhaps not quite the long-predicted worst-case scenario for New Orleans,it is much too close. It is a disaster that has been in the making for almost three centuries, the growth of a major population, me and energy center madepossible only by 2,000 miles verse the degradationof the delta havebeentoo little, too late. Since 1990, Washington has been providing about $50 million for piecemeal _state wetlands-restoration projects. In the late 1990s, an extensiveplanning process produced .a sweeping Coast 2050 plan to restore the Louisiana coast ata cost of $14 billion | Listen to the evidence; research the case before commenting-in such a brutal | manner. | » Marilyn West, | rovo | Bush provi dam than all eelee aging nes — spared direct hit Monday as Hurricane Katrina veered east the sighof relief was all too brief. Biloxi in Mississippi and Mobile in the townin as much as 20 feet of of levees and massive navigation projects — that, in turn, have de- likely. for 90 percentofthe losses to U.S. U.S. waterborne commerce. About Federal andstateefforts to re- overthe next half-century. The know that these young men and the ageandstrength in seeking justice. In the past four years there have been Bush administration, however, has numerous hurricanes hit this country’s _of the plan (costing $1.9 billion over canes have caused widespread destruc- big storms from the Gulf of Mexico. 10 years) that has not yet been ap- tion and damage, in other words,long before Katrina proved by Congress. coast sinking. ment, which ought to draw national stroyed the Mississippi Delta’s natu- ral capacities to absorb and buffer blew ashore, the waters of the gulf havebeenrising and the Louisiana supported only a truncated version Katrina highlightsthe urgent _need for a longer-term commit- In just the last 70 years, Loui- support — likethat for the $8 billion In the next 50 years it is expected toshrink by another 500 square miles — increasingthe size of glades.It is not too early for the Bush administration to take another} look at Coast 2050. siana has lost 1,900 square miles. plan torestore the Florida Ever- DOONESBURY- Garry Trudeau East Coast and Gulf states. These hurri- to arejust a couple of reasons I would like to hear the word impeachment more often. » Richard Howard, Draper Megal immigrants unworthy ofourcollective sympathy Your article Aug. 9 by Maria Elena Salinas brought tears to my eyes. The tears were from thinking about the fifteen more criminals sneaking over our border. Fifteen more who will add to the ones who havebeen bringing thousands of cases of tuberculosis and leprosy (and who knowswhatelse) to the United States, costing millions more in medical costs. Fifteen moreto help jam our already crowded schools, causing my property taxes to be raised by our schooldistrict every year for the past.10 years. Fifteen more that may addtothe illegal perverts and murderers who have been caught lately. Fifteen more to add to the 10 percent of Utah's population that is Mexican now. And, some tears because we have a local newspaperthat kicks President Bushin the butt every chance it gets, yet prints sob stories about how hardillegals are trying to aatedLo try to join the over 11 million i already here. Buzz off, Salinas. » Gary Macomber, Salem People who qiticise Bush iving Butif you added up the total damage to this country you would find that it would be smaller than Hurricane Bush, enemies aid, comfort It's beyond our comprehension how Cindy Sheehan could do what she is do- caused worldwide would far exceed any of her deceased son, who chose to serve caused bythe other hurricanes. Huge budget deficits, 13,000 casualties in Iraq in a justified war in which we were lied of democracy in the Middle East that we will be safe. Wewould like to shout from the house tops our support for President Bushand our military leaders. For Americans to speak ill of them during this wartimeis destructive to the morale of our military men and women,andto the reverse ‘of democracy forthe Iraqi ple. Our military sons and daughters need our support by supporting their commanderin chief. Anything less during this critical time is downright shameful. » Gary and Joy Lundberg, Provo SI How to comment E-mail | ae to dhletters@heraldextra.com Fax to 344-2985 Mail to P.O. Box 717, Provo, UT 84603. ; aieAe oets d Gat Saasin ris ess an 'ytime phone number. » Weprefer shorter letters, 100 and 200 words,Letters » Writers are encouraged to giving ing. ie Bush has ism.It is only through the establishment maybe edited for length. ‘which struck the country in-2000. The damage Hi and causing the war to last longer. Our son is currently serving in Baghdad as a memberof the ArmyNational Guard and weareproud of him forhis willingness to help Iraq gain the freedoms that we enjoy, andin the process protect our country from further terror- j ‘Whata disgrace to the valiant service Our country. ; _ What she and those like her are doing _is giving aid and comfort to the enemy include their occupation and other personal information. » Because of the fl ws volumeof letters, caret teak os e » Letters become the property of the Daily Herald. MALLARDFILLMORE- Bruce Tinsley |