hen I walked out of the McKean County Commissioners’ Meeting on Monday,
January 26, 1998, I turned to John Gates and said: "Everyone wants to own a horse,
but no one wants to clean up the horse manure."
That was the impression I had after I listened to angry citizens
protest the possibility of the location of a Low Level Nuclear Waste Dump in McKean
County.
In all, there were about thirty people in attendance. No one was
present from Chem-Nuclear, the company that caused the uprising. Of all of the statements
I heard that day, only Bill Belitskus really made sense when he said that we should stop
making radioactive waste altogether. "Don’t make any more," he said. I
agree.
It seems to me that taking into consideration where we live, we should
be keenly aware of our environment. We live in the midst of nature and have something that
city dwellers genuinely envy. We have clean air and the ability to move around freely
without bumping into (and I mean that literally) another person when we turn a corner. We
have the freedom that city dwellers can never have; but, on the other hand, they have
economic advantages we dreadfully need.
It is a balancing act and one that is now in the forefront and
affecting the future of the four counties in which the Allegheny National Forest is
located.
A recent lawsuit put forth by several college students has brought the
Mortality II Timber Cut to a stand still. Labeling anyone as an environmentalist, or a
"tree hugger," in our neck of the woods evokes immediate ostracizing of that
person, if not getting their butts beat up, their dog killed, and sugar put in the gas
tank of their German made luxury car at the same time.
The term "tree hugger" brings forth pictures of a dopey Al
Gore, a decorated Vietnam War hero, and Vice President of the United States. We all know
how incredible he is and how he doesn’t care a hoot about us hicks up here in the
woods of northwestern Pennsylvania. He would rather see trees than people live here.
My father, County Commissioner Harold Beck, has been a long time critic
of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the management of the Allegheny National Forest,
a group he calls "The California Pine Cone Counters." He has accused them of
seizing public lands and remaking them into government lands and denying the citizens of
the nation access to the forest that was supposedly created for them. As difficult as it
can be for a son to agree with his father, I am forced to agree with old dad in that
single point.
I remember my father, John Gates and their friend Tony from the MINERAL
WELL RESTAURANT in Warren leading a group of people who wanted to open the national forest
to the people. They wanted the gates on the roads in the forest opened and the people
allowed to use those roads for recreational purposes other than just walking. They wanted
the snowmobiles to be able to use those roads. They wanted ATV’s to be able to use
those roads. They wanted horse back riding allowed on those roads. Needless to say, they
failed in the attempt to open the gates. In fact the new forest plan which is in the final
formative stages calls for 90% of all existing roads in the Allegheny National Forest to
be restricted from use other than logging and oil production through the year 2015. So
much for the forest belonging to the people.
In light of policies like that, is it any wonder that a few students
from Clarion University might file a lawsuit and try and throw a monkey wrench in the
plans of the pine cone counters?
One of the greatest obstacles to the expansion of recreational
activities in the Allegheny National Forest is the three year environmental study. The EIS
as it is known has been put in the way of new snowmobile trails, bridges over creeks for
hiking and snowmobiling, camping, and a myriad of other activities. Most conveniently
however, when the Allegheny National Forest had a project that it deemed important for
whatever reason it might have, John Palmer and his chief henchmen would use a little known
process called the "executive memo."
With a stroke of a pen, in their wisdom, they would put aside the
requirement for the Environmental Impact Study and grant a waiver so the project could go
forth. That is exactly what happened in the case of the Mortality II Timber Cut. They did
not follow their own rules.
To complicate matters, the geniuses from California put sixteen small
timber sales into one large package. Don’t you believe for one minute that they did
this stupidly. It was a calculated move that was designed to keep the little loggers from
being able to bid on any single part of the sale. Only the very large mills who compete
with the little guy and have forced more and more of them out of the woods could afford
the extremely large cash bonds required to be posted with their bids.
Keep in mind that many of the large mills are direct recipients of huge
government subsidies and loans. It is in the direct interest that big government (i.e. The
Department of Agriculture) puts those interests ahead of those of the mom and pop, brother
and brother, logging operations. As the Allegheny National Forest joined the sixteen small
cuts into one giant Mortality II Timber Project, they made themselves an easy target for a
group of unorganized college students with a cause thus placing the entire timber industry
centered around the ANF in jeopardy.
My father, no fan of the imperial John Palmer, Supervisor of the
Allegheny National Forest, says Palmer should be fired. I partially agree with him, but I
think in reality he has missed the forest for the timber cut.
John Palmer is carrying out the policy of the Clinton Administration.
John Palmer is a political animal and subject to political policies. In recent years we
have seen the Clinton White House attempt to curtail timbering in the Allegheny National
Forest. In recent years we have seen political pressure brought on the Clinton White House
from Republican U.S. Senators from Pennsylvania and Republican Congressmen. In each year
the Clinton White House gave in and the timbering continued as in the past.
This year, due to no fault of the Clinton White House, a Federal Judge
in Pittsburgh has halted the cut. In light of historical attempts by the Executive Branch
to stop the cuts, who really is behind this latest and most successful attempt? Was John
Palmer and his gang of pine cone counters purposely negligent? Did they set us up so these
students could stop the cut?
It just seems too incredible to me that students could have the
complete understanding of the process to deal such a devastating blow to an industry
without inside help. I believe that such help came from the President of the United
States, or at least from Vice President Al Gore. You have to admit that for the very first
time the White House has been successful. And...if you carry the idea forward, why
hasn’t the ANF ever mounted any type of defense on their own behalf?
Since the suit was originally filed, the ANF has said nothing, entered
no plea, nor have they attempted to separate the sixteen individual cuts and petition the
court to allow individual and environmentally necessary operations to go forward. Any
judge presented with the evidence of need would allow some of the plan to go forward.
Instead, Palmer and his staff have quietly sat back and allowed these kids to run over
them. That in itself should have all of us smelling the rat.
Logging, properly managed, does not damage the environment. The forest
we have today is the third growth of the forest. When the Allegheny National Forest was
created in 1926 the hills overlooking the Allegheny River were barren, stump-infested
wastelands. Snow melting and rain runoff flooded the towns and cities down river. Erosion
was at a peak and the lands were abandoned for taxes. The black cherry is not native to
the area but grew when the giant hemlock forests were taken down. The area is fertile land
for hardwoods and with good management will produce for centuries to come. In the
meantime, the residents of the area will find jobs in the industry as long as the industry
is allowed to continue.
If it isn’t, what is our future?
I attended the commissioners’ meeting so that I might have a
glimpse into one possibility.
Chairman Larry Stratton read his statement at that meeting.
"I have always granted an open door policy toward any and all
projects which would aid the economy of McKean County. Even though only one of many is
likely to become a viable industry, each has been given the courtesy of talking. It was in
this context only that I met with a representative of Chem-Nuclear. Events of the past few
days have shown me that in the view of many, this courtesy is not to be extended to anyone
involved in nuclear energy. Therefore, I bow to the will of the people, there will be no
more dialog with Chem-Nuclear."
Commissioner Harold Beck (my father) read a statement.
"I want to take this opportunity to respond to comments made by
Mr. John Burk of Chem-Nuclear Systems, Inc.
"In a recent media interview Mr. Burk referred to me as a
Demagogue and labeled my opposition to the placing of low level nuclear waste in McKean
County as a purely politically inspired move. In that interview Mr. Burk stated that he
was acting ‘at the request of the McKean County Commissioners’ Office’ when
he created special maps of the county to bring to the meeting of December 10, 1997.
"To state that he was acting on behalf of and at the request of
‘the Commissioners’ Office’ implies that there was a consensus of the
commissioners for him to act on our behalf. I am unaware that such a consensus existed and
seriously doubt that it ever has. What has existed is a very unfortunate situation that
evidently leaves our lovely and peaceful county in danger of being one of the finalists in
a contest that no one wants to win. I specifically point to his statement admitting that
if the voluntary process ends in failure, then... ‘If we go back to the screening
process, then we will make a cold hard decision based on technical siting criteria, and
public acceptance is not one of those criteria.’
"During his recent visits to McKean County Mr. Burk has failed to
mention to anyone that Chem-Nuclear is being audited by the State of Pennsylvania after a
unanimous vote of the House when it came to light that millions of state dollars were
alleged to have been misspent. That included spending on items such as alcohol for
parties, including one with a pro-nuclear business group at Penn State University. Other
items included football tickets for elected officials, golf outing trophies, United Way
contributions, picnic costs, Christmas bonuses, plane flights for an employee’s pet,
newspaper costs for their former president, and payment on Chem-Nuclear’s penalties
and interest on delinquent taxes at their Barnwell, SC office.
"As for Mr. Burk labeling me as a Demagogue, I have been called
worse for standing up for much less of a cause. For his charges saying my actions were
politically motivated, I would say that any decision involving the welfare of the people
of this county is above politics. It did not play any role in my opposition to this siting
process. I oppose this because it is proper to protect our county. I say that because it
has become apparent to me that since I first openly opposed our involvement with
Chem-Nuclear the vast majority of people are in agreement with me, Democrats and
Republicans alike.
"Mr. Burk’s soft sell should place us all on guard. When less
than 6,000 votes are cast in McKean County in a National Election, we should recognize how
vulnerable we really are. Chem-Nuclear has 90 million dollars of our tax dollars at its
disposal to complete its job. Mr. Burk has money to woo officials and run over the wishes
of the people. I will continue to oppose the siting of nuclear waste in McKean County
regardless of what names Mr. Burk calls me."
Not to slight Commissioner Weaver, he gave a history of the time line
that has been going on since 1980.
1980 Congress passes the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Act.
1985 Congress passes the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Amendment
Act.
1985 Pennsylvania joins Appalachian States LLRW Compact.
1988 Pa. General Assembly passes Pennsylvania LLRW Disposal Act (Act
12) to grant DER responsibility for implementing the facility siting process.
1990 DER signs contract with Chem-Nuclear Systems, Inc. (CNSI)
1991 DER approves CNSI’s siting plan.
1991 CNSI releases Stage 1 map disqualifying 23% of the state.
1993 CNSI releases Stage 2 map disqualifying 46% of the state.
1994 CNSI releases Stage 3 map disqualifying 75% of the state.
1995 DER announces shift in siting to focus on volunteer approach.
1996-97 CNSI implements the Community Partnering Process after
statewide input on draft plan.
1998 CNSI to complete technical evaluations of sites under
consideration.
1998 CNSI to finish analyses and reports of three potential host
municipalities.
1998 CNSI to submit three preferred potentially suitable sites to the
Environmental Quality Board (EQB) for review.
1999 EQB to grant preliminary approval to study the three potentially
suitable sites in greater detail.
1999-2000 CNSI to study the three sites to select one for licensing.
2000 CNSI to submit license application to DEP.
2001 DEP to approve license application submitted by CNSI.
2002 Facility to open.
2032 Facility to close and an undetermined state agency to monitor
the facility for the next 500 years.
Commissioner Weaver said: "In conclusion there have been a lot of
people involved since 1980. It is not like this thing just cropped up a week ago. I would
vote against it if it is legal for us to do so."
Commissioner Weaver’s timeline was most enlightening to me. It
seems that only 25% of Pennsylvania is suitable for the siting of the Low Level Nuclear
Dump Site. That was determined in 1994. Where has Chem-Nuclear been between 1994 and
today, 1998?
In Commissioner Weaver’s time line 1998 is a very pivotal year.
This is the year that Chem-Nuclear is to pick the three finalists (or rather, fatalities).
I find it odd that after all of these years Chem-Nuclear shows up talking to Warren and
McKean Counties in January 1998. Are we two of the three finalists?
Commissioner Stratton, in his statement, is "bowing to the will of
the people." My roommates and fellow classmates wonder why he now bows to the will of
the people? How can Nuclear Waste be in the best interest of the people and how did they
get here in the first place?
We are supposed to believe that these people just showed up and asked
for a meeting with the County Commissioners and because of Commissioner Stratton’s
open door policy he granted it. Statements he has made make me believe that he does not
believe that low level nuclear waste is bad for McKean County. When he said he would not
mind living near a nuclear waste dump makes me believe that he invited these people here.
From what I heard at the Commissioners’ meeting, I am not sure that at least two of
the Hamlin Township Supervisors are against it either. That scares the living hell out of
me! Who are these people representing?
Commissioner Beck’s (my father) statement was not what I would
have expected from him either. He soft soaped the involvement of the commissioners by
using a term like consensus. What he was doing was protecting his fellow Republican, Larry
Stratton.
I recognize that he has opposed any siting of low level nuclear waste
in the entire area from the very beginning. I applaud him for being so definite in his
opposition. It is that I am disappointed that he did not put the blame where it actually
belonged. He acted political when he should have gone for the throat.
He acted like a politician when he stated that there was no consensus
among the commissioners as John Burk stated in the paper. I would have expected him to say
that Larry Stratton told Debbie Lunden to prepare the maps for Chem-Nuclear and find out
who owned the property in Clermont, the site that Chem-Nuclear is seriously considering. I
would have expected him to question Larry Stratton as to why he couldn’t remember the
names of the township officials at the December 10, 1997 meeting. After all, Larry
Stratton called the meeting and I would believe that he would remember who he invited. It
was his meeting.
Jay Paul Kahle stated at the commissioners’ meeting and it is
reported in the minutes:
"They (CNSI) were not invited into this county."
Nothing could be farther from the truth. They were invited and
Commissioner Stratton should take credit for inviting them and Commissioner Beck should
have corrected Mr. Kahle. I resent the damage control that seems to have taken place in
the County Commissioners’ office.
There you have it. Two unrelated issues, both involving the
environment. Two totally unrelated issues but both involved in behind-the-scenes dealing
and even behind-the-scenes coverup of the actual blame and where it really belongs. There
are serious issues involved and we need our press to print the whole story and show all
the players for who they really are.
Should we give up our logging industry and embrace the dumping of
nuclear waste in our beautiful and pristine area? That appears to be the agenda and in
order to stop it in its tracks it is going to take more than thirty people at a public
meeting and guest speakers at fire halls. We need to question our leaders and make them
accountable from the beginning. It is too late when some politician "bows to the will
of the people."
This story was written with the aid of John Gates, Managing Editor of THE MOUNTAIN
LAUREL REVIEW, back issues of MLR, and minutes from the Commissioners’ Meeting of
January 26, 1998. Opinions expressed in the article are those of the author.
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