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PLACE: The United Church of Spring Valley - Mendum Room - Spring
Valley, New York
11:15 A.M. Program: CONSERVATION - ONE MAN'S PERSPECTIVE Mr. Gillespie is senior counsel at Davis, Polk and Wardwell in New York City and has been a member of the firm since 1948. He was President of the New York State Bar Association and served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Most of his career has been spent in trial and appellate practice. He is a graduate of Yale University and its law school. He now serves as Chairman of the American Skin Association. A member of the Piermont Public Library Board of directors. Mr. Gillespie is President of the Tappan Zee Preservation Coalition, Inc. Through the tireless efforts of the late historian Isabelle Savell and Mr. Gillespie, the New York State Designated Tappan Zee Scenic District was created. It is 13 miles of Rockland's Hudson River shoreline, Hook Mountain to the New Jersey State line. Lunch will be provided by the Board of Directors.
Membership dues for 2002 are payable at this time. A membership application and return envelope are enclosed. Since 1930, RCCA has worked to preserve, protect and conserve the natural resources of the county and beyond. As you know, demands and impacts on these resources have multiplied. We need you. Dues and donations from members and friends have sustained the efforts of the Association, where all are volunteers Please renew your membership for 2002. New members are most welcome. Each member is very important to RCCA.
On January 15, 2002, the Rockland County Legislature unanimously adopted three resolutions which were endorsed by RCCA and many other groups and individuals.
RCCA wishes to thank the Rockland County Legislature for its response to these issues.
Why Shut Down Indian Point In several public forums, like the recent meeting held by the Rockland Legislature, employees from Energy have stated that Indian Point is safer operating than shut down. On the contrary, a recent analysis makes it very clear that shutting down the Indian Point reactors would reduce the consequences of a radioactive release, were terrorists to successfully penetrate the plants and destroy essential safety systems. According to a preliminary analysis conducted by the Nuclear Control Institute, after a shutdown of 20 days, the number of prompt fatalities from a core meltdown and breach of containment could be reduced by 80 percent and the number of long-term cancer deaths by 50 percent. In addition, NCI points out that removing the fuel from the reactors, something that can be done approximately a week after shutdown, will allow security forces to focus their protection on the irradiated fuel pool where this highly radioactive fuel, as well as all fuel previously removed from the reactors, is stored. Unless Indian Point is shut down, there will not be the financial, technical, and political imperative to perform a thorough job. - Kyle Rabin
Mirant has stated that market conditions have caused them to delay completion of their application for approval of this plant. They are still attempting to resolve outstanding issues including cooling method, visual impacts, and emission reduction credit. Environmentalists should closely follow these issues to assure that if the application is granted at some future date it is responsive to the overall considerations important to Rockland County. The Rockland County Conservation Association is an intervenor in this case.
CONFERENCE ARTICLE X: OPTIONS FOR REFORM
For information and registration: Government Law Center of Albany Law School Registration Fee: Government, Nonprofit $ 75
The United States is the biggest electricity consumer in the world.
The Atlantic Corridor
The interconnectedness of the many challenges facing our community is what draws the Rockland County Conservation Association to action. Historically, the organization has taken on issues of conflict and controversy. Whether it was protecting High Tor Mountain in the 1940's or opposing the construction of the Indian Point nuclear facilities, our members have participated in the process. Conservation must not be separated from responsible development. RCCA's leadership role on environmental issues is what has brought attention to critical issues. Conservation of natural resources is what controls the balance of the health and quality of life we all look forward to enjoying. When the balance is weighted by industry the natural order must adjust, if it can. Unfortunately, many of the problems we are now facing have been guided by the weight of industry. There is nothing wrong with development provided that it is done responsibly. Indian Point was sited within threatening reach of the metropolitan New York area. Eight percent of the entire population of the United States lives within fifty miles of the plant. Possible terrorist attack is not as unforeseen as we perhaps once thought. The notion that human and technical error can be contained is as delusional as believing that we can control the rising and setting of the sun. Considering the implications of a nuclear power plant in the region is like deciding whether it is prudent to go swimming in the ocean during a hurricane. The consequences can be severe. A life jacket, as an evacuation plan, is a nice gesture. However, the likelihood of efficacy is doubtful. Since the opening of Indian Point, RCCA has continually called for its closing. Realizing that we all enjoy the comforts that electricity provides, we are keenly aware that the demands put upon the electric generating industry are great. American National Power (ANP) suggests that they have a solution, in Tome Valley. Once again, we say it is the wrong place. The Article X process has been postponed at the request of ANP in order that they may conjure up new mitigation tactics to provide a safe haven for the threatened rattlesnakes that will be disturbed by the proposed plant. There are also issues of visual mitigation. How does one hide the elephant in the living room? We continue to work with the legal team to save Torne Valley and secure the land to be added to Palisades Park. The pressures in Torne Vallleu are many. Happily, we can report that Sithe Energy understood that it is not the right place for a power plant and withdrew their application. The drought is a reminder that our water resources are limited. Protection of this critical resource is a major reason why we are fighting against the development of a power plant in Tome Valley. These issues all bespeak of the need to consider how we derive our electricity. Conservation through efficiency and renewable energy sources must be promoted. Renewable energy sources require development and installation. Job opportunities such as these and a cleaner environment promote sustainable growth. In order to see the entire picture, we must first connect the dots. - Dorice Madronero, 2nd vice-president
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Last Updated: September 09, 2003 |
