LETTERS TO THE WEBSITE EDITOR
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Subject: I, too, must reply Date: Tue, 2 Nov 1999
From: "Susan Artherholt Lish" Demaw@aol.com To: GPhil@ix.netcom.com
(This letter is in reply to the Editorial on the N.M. School board's recent decision...see Editorial / Opinion page.)

I am not an educator, but I have had two kids in public schools and now have three grandsons in public schools. The difference from when I was in school, my kids were in school, and now my grandsons is amazing!

We reminisce the past; remembering the days when we were students at JHS; how safe we all felt there. Those days are gone because our society has turned their collective backs on God and His teachings.

When Madeleine O'Hare succeeded in getting prayer removed from schools, the door was opened for all the things we know about, read about, and hear about happening in schools.

A school without God opens the door for violence. Just as a heart without God opens the door for hatred.

Until we allow prayer and God back into our schools, the violence will continue.

Love to all, Susan

Subject: i must reply! Date: Mon, 18 Oct 1999
From: "nelda wood mcconnell" <nmcconnell@sundown.isd.tenet.edu> Organization: sisd To: Letter to the Website Editor <GPhil@ix.netcom.com>
(This letter is in reply to the Editorial on the N.M. School board's recent decision...see Editorial / Opinion page.)

now let's think about this. you mention two states...both have had school shootings...hmmmmm wonder if it has anything to do with "seperation of church and state"? i have to tell you that as a public school teacher, my vote goes to the fundamentalists! wow! school without God is scary! my experience (over 25 years) provides evidence that the more we push God out, the more we see violence, hatred, prejudice, and poorer quality of education. Seems to me that we might want to reconsider...i, of course, can only speak for myself, but i have seen the difference a Godly faculty and admisnistration makes. sincerely, nelda wood mcconnell

You've been looking for that first customer on the Letter to the Editor site--well,
here it is! I hope that it doesn't cause too many hard feelings, as this is intended not
as an attack on any person or group, but rather just to present another person's view on a controversial subject. Of course, I am writing about the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) and Jere Galle's letter about its opening.

I had no idea that Jere was the DOE Security Manager for the WIPP Carlsbad Area Office, so I was somewhat surprised to see the letter about WIPP on the Jal Reunion Page. While I can understand that--as a DOE employee and someone who obviously believes in the job he is doing--Jere is proud of opening WIPP, I was disturbed at some of the statements he made.

Let me say from the start that I oppose WIPP. My opposition stems from much study of the project, a tour of the site, and perhaps most importantly, a long history of safety problems connected to nuclear power and the government's handling of it. I suppose that makes me one of the "They"s that Jere writes about.

But I truly hope that Jere and I are not "adversaries". Instead, I would hope that we are two people who are interested in finding the safest, most effective means to deal with
a serious environmental and health problem, albeit through different methods.

I am not some kook who doesn't have enough sense to know what is good for him.
I didn't lay down in the road in order to stop that first shipment (my parents taught me at an early age not to play on the highway--a lesson I still try to adhere to!). What I am is a college graduate who is capable of independent thought, logic and reasoning. I am capable of looking at both sides of an issue and reaching moderately intelligent decisions. I am certainly capable of seeing the hypocrisy of an argument that says that, although plutonium "doesn't sound very deadly", we must have a multi-billion dollar facility to store it in and "over 100 Law Enforcement Officers and emergency response personnel" to get it there.

Of course plutonium and other radioactive waste is deadly. And we do need a safe place to put it. Unfortunately, the DOE has not made a very solid case for this particular project. It may surprise some to know that there are a number of scientists, with training and credentials equal to those who brought WIPP into existence, who have steadfastly opposed WIPP. There are a great many arguments for never having opened this facility, and I would urge everyone to investigate the subject for themselves--look at all sides of the issue and reach your own conclusions.

What was most disturbing in Jere's letter was the paragraph which says, "Someone has jokingly said that you could eat elemental plutonium and you MIGHT die of cancer in 30 years. That doesn't sound very deadly to me. 'They' should redefine deadly." For starters, I think it is worth noting that someone who dies of cancer--whether in three weeks or thirty years--is just as dead as the person who is evaporated in the flash of a nuclear explosion. Also, having lost more friends, relatives and acquaintances to cancer than I care to count, I find absolutely nothing humorous in Jere's statement. I truly hope that he has not had to witness the slow, painful, humiliating death of someone he cares about from this horrible disease.

In the same paragraph he says, "I would like to see my adversaries eat a spoonful of cyanide granules and see how long they last." It is a fact they won't last long. However, only the person that eats those granules is likely to die, whereas virtually everyone who comes into direct contact with plutonium or one of the other types of nuclear waste headed down our highways toward WIPP is at risk of contracting one of the many varieties of cancer which plague us.

Of course, WIPP proponents will argue that the public will never come into contact with this waste. We can only hope that is true. However, there are a number of possibilities that could result in just that sort of thing happening. Leaks (yes, it can happen), accidental incursions into the repository due to drilling for oil and gas, and
a variety of other breeches are possible. One statement made during the coverage of the initial shipment to WIPP was that terrorists would have no interest in this material because they couldn't make a bomb from it. Has it not occurred to them (both the terrorists and our government) that spewing radioactive waste all over the countryside by blowing up one of these trucks would create fairly widespread panic? What happens when there is no longer an armada of police and emergency personnel to accompany these shipments?

It is especially ironic and sad to me that this discussion should occur on this website, dedicated as it is to the Y2K Reunion. Among the people who will not attend is the young lady I took to the prom my senior year. I knew that she had cancer when I asked her to go with me. Sadly, I think I knew even then--some four years before her death--that she would not recover. That sounds pretty deadly to me.

I honestly believe that her death is probably attributable to another nuclear experiment which was presumed to be safe--Project Gnome. Gnome was a three kiloton underground nuclear explosion located not far from where the WIPP site now sits.
This December 10, 1961 blast was supposed to be contained entirely underground
but vented unexpectedly. Radioactive steam poured out of the cavity until the next day. The ground still has elevated plutonium levels and taxpayers are still footing the bill for cleanup and remediation of the soil. If you have ever spent much time in Jal, you know that the wind blows most of the time from the west--the direction in which ground zero lay. On at least three separate occassions, I have heard of doctors from M. D. Anderson Hospital in Houston questioning patients about why Jal has such high cancer rates. Coincidence? Maybe, but I bet some of you are asking yourselves where you were in December of '61? It is another irony that, after fifty years of cold war and worrying about the Russians dropping the bomb, the only nuclear weapons exploded here came from us, not them.

Now, Jal faces a number of environmental hazards, both nuclear and non-nuclear.
In the name of "economic development" our area legislators are working very hard to attract the United States Enrichment Corporation's (USEC) uranium enrichment plant. This plant is a proposed 30 year project to be built east of Eunice which would enhance uranium for use in fuel rods for nuclear powerplants throughout the world. One reason that USEC is looking at this area is that there is relatively little contamination. The two plants they already own in Kentucky and Ohio (which use an older process) are said to be unsuitable because of existing pollution. Once again, we are assured that it is safe.

In order to attract this plant, the state legislature--led by the Lea County delegation--has agreed to what has been estimated at from $119.2 million to $614 million in tax breaks and in-plant training funds. Among the tax incentives is an exemption from gross receipts tax--the primary means of funding counties and municipalities in this state. The in-plant training funds will cover workers who live in Texas as well as New Mexico. These measures greatly limit any economic benefit this plant might bring. And there has been nothing done to guarantee that USEC will not leave behind the same kind of pollution that exists at their other sites.

Water is a critical issue in Lea County. The USEC plant will use an estimated 2.8 million gallons of water a day. That is roughly equivalent to one-fifth of Hobbs' daily usage. This at a time when Jal and the other municipalities in the county are spending a great deal of money to insure that we even have water in the future. What good will new jobs do this area if there is no water--or the groundwater is too polluted to be usable?

Finally, just last week--in a span of two days--we learned that shipments of napalm
will be coming through Jal by rail, and that a local rancher is planning to "remediate" contaminated soil by dumping it near Bennett, spraying it with water and discing it once a week. The napalm, of course, is said to be absolutely safe. Makes you wonder why they feel the need to ship it from California to New Mexico to be disposed of. We will just try not to think about those several derailments in and around Jal over the last few years (the last one was just east of the football field near what some of you may remember as the old Runnel's Mud Company building). And you might take a little extra care if you are driving south on Highway 18 toward Jal. The napalm shipments will cross the highway near Eunice--but not to worry, the speed on that section of road drops from 65 to 55 so I am sure you will have plenty of time to stop! For those who are interested, the napalm is going to a site near the proposed USEC plant and a hazardous materials storage facility (and proposed nuclear waste storage facility) which is already in operation. As for the soil remediation, I can only wonder why, if the contaminants are so easily gotten out of the soil, that can not be done where the soil now sits? And don't those contaminants have to go someplace--like into the groundwater which supplies nearby wells?

My apologies for going on at such length--but I believe that everyone from Jal should be aware of what is happening here and why I so desparately want to bring something positive like the JAL Cowboy Sculpture to our little town. I do not want us to be known as the nation's dumpground. I want Jal to be much more like the little town that so many of you feel such nostalgia for--even if those of us who still live here can't always afford the luxury of nostalgia.

Sincerely, Brian Norwood, JHS Class of 1975       03/31/99

I was deeply offended and disturbed by Jere Galle's letter on the Jal website. To me,
a true environmentalist supports and protects all life, not just the life that shares his point of view. Cancer and the ingestion of a 'spoonful of cyanide granules' are not funny to me, and I would certainly never wish it on an 'adversary'.

I AM an environmentalist, and I'm not WIPP's biggest fan. I agree that placing nuclear waste in the salt caverns is certainly a better solution than storing it in leaking containers topside at Los Alamos National Laboratory. However, my concern (and my fear) is that the Department of Energy and it's predecessor, the Atomic Energy Commission, have not exactly proven themselves to be worthy of my trust. I'm certainly not willing
to place the lives of my children in their hands.

Mr. Galle doesn't know me--he shouldn't lump me in with extremists, and he shouldn't presume to know my environmental motives. I really hope that the people working at WIPP follow each and every safety guideline. I hope WIPP is one of the answers to our nuclear waste problem. I pray the WIPP site remains stable during periods of increased seismic activity.

To use Mr. Galle's words, "Promises were made, promises were broken". Indeed they were. Promises have been made, and promises have been broken throughout the history of the United States' involvement in Nuclear research, development and implementation. Ask the downwinders in Nevada, the residents living near Three Mile Island or the poor souls who were injected with radioactive isotopes, by the government, without their knowledge or consent.

I don't consider myself 'anti-nuke' or an 'adversary' of the nuclear industry. All too well, I understand the economic, energy and military considerations that drive this industry. My environmental 'actions' are not intended to stop any nuclear activities. I just want my government to actually do what they say they're going to do or admit that mistakes have been made in the past and then fix the problem.

Jal has been my home for 40 years now. My sons are the fourth generation in my family to live here. I would love to see them raise their families in this community; however, due to the present situation, we're encouraging them to find their futures elsewhere.

I regret to inform all the past and present Jalites that south Lea County is currently being considered prime real estate for every imaginable type of waste disposal operation. Exactly 23 mile north of us (a couple of miles east of Eunice), Waste Control Specialists hopes to build a napalm incinerator and a uranium enrichment plant. Due west about 40 miles, we now have radioactive waste stored at WIPP. Several miles south--near Bennett--a landowner is in the process of building a remediation landfarm for the waste created by oil and gas production. All in the name of 'economic development'.

"They" see a barren wasteland suitable only for disposal of someone else's trash.

It is early April as I write this. Do you know what I see? My edge of the desert is alive with budding mesquite and yuccas in full bloom. Butterflies of every color are dancing among the flowering weeds in the pastures. The hummingbirds have returned. Just this week, I've seen bright yellow finches nesting near the tank farm, beautiful hawks hunting in a pasture west of town, and a fruit bat that lost its way and wound up in an oilfield office.

I care about this community. I do not wish to see this land misused or precious resources wasted. This 'environmentalist' doesn't just complain about it, she works at 'fixing the situation'.

I know the oilfield economy is down--it affects my family and my community every day. Do we have to give up that which is so precious to us for economic security?

Sincerely,

Rhonda J. Watson, JHS Class of 1977       04/04/99

First, let me say that Mr. Galle did not ask to have his letter posted on this website.
In his elation over the opening of the W.I.P.P. site, he composed his letter and sent it via email to several of his friends. I am proud to have been counted as one of them.

Second, I asked for permission to reprint his letter on the Panther website, and he
graciously consented. It really was not my intention to "start trouble" by initiating
debate on a divisive issue--especially not with our impending Y2K reunion on the
horizon. However, as adults, I feel we all are capable of expressing our conflicting views on particular subjects, while remaining good friends in all other aspects of our
relationships. At least I certainly hope this is the case.

On thing I do know: It is impossible to 'keep quiet' on issues which stir our passions and deepest sensibilities. "Nuclear waste" is one such issue. Somewhat like 'abortion',
it elicits either your support or your outrage. There is no middle ground. Also, neither side is likely to be swayed by arguments from the other side. Nothing changes.
In spite of this, it's very important, even necessary to express those opinions which one holds dear, and which resonate within every fiber of one's being.

That said, it's time to state my opinion: I've personally been opposed to the W.I.P.P. project since it's very inception.

(Sorry Jere, at this point it seems we're ganging up on you, but I'm confident that future letters will support you. We will publish all thoughtful, respectful viewpoints from either side. We will even publish rants and tirades, but we reserve the right to do a little 'editing' on those.)

The idea of a Waste Isolation Pilot Plant scared the hell outta me back in 1979.
It still does. Perhaps I suffer from the "not in MY back yard syndrome." I understand the necessity of disposing of transuranic nuclear waste. But how best to dispose of it?
I'm just not convinced that underground salt beds are the solution. And where to best dispose of it? Again, Not In My Back Yard!

Now we are facing more terrifying propositions as outlined in the two very eloquent letters above. I was particularly moved by Ms. Watson's description of the 'alive' spring desert. The desert is very alive, very beautiful, and very fragile. The fact that
it is being turned into a latrine for radioactive materials saddens me...devastates me.
It's bad enough that the whole of Lea County has been turned into a junkyard of
debris from the oil and gas industry.

Yes, I know that the oil and gas industry was the lifeblood of Lea County, New Mexico. It still is, though it isn't the life-sustaining force that it was in the past.
I suppose in making the above 'junkyard' comment, I'm biting the hand that fed me.
I'll admit to that. But have you looked around Lea County lately? Have you compared it's landscape to other parts of the state. The last time I visited Jal was about five years ago. As I left town, I drove north on highway 18, past Eunice, through Hobbs, Lovington, Tatum, and continued northward of Lea County through Portales and Clovis.

Lea County is a total junkyard of old, forgotten, rusty oil and gas related equipment.
The junk begins to thin out north of Lea County, and by the time one drives north of Clovis, the last remnants of it begin to disappear. Farther north, one begins to enter a
pristine New Mexico, an untouched, unspoiled high plains, where one almost expects to see Coronado and his men marching along the horizon. Yes, the northeastern quadrant of New Mexico is economically poor and sparsely populated.......always has been......always will be. It has never known wealth like that which Jal enjoyed from the oil and gas industry.

But.... the land remains unspoiled. It is almost the same as it was hundreds of years ago. It is not a junkyard of rusted metal and foul smells, and there's something to be said for that.When I look at Lea County today ( post-oil-boom Lea County) I shudder to think what the future may bring and how that view (of a post-waste-disposal Lea County) might evolve.

I won't reiterate what has already been said about the various proposals to further trash the area I once called home. As I stated earlier, my arguments (in reality) aren't likely to sway any W.I.P.P. supporters or those who are interested in the economic development of southeastern New Mexico AT ANY COST. However, for those of you who might not have made up your mind on the issue just yet, I'm going to list some links to internet sites where you can find out more on the subject of nuclear waste disposal. In all fairness, sites promoting both sides of the issue will be presented...... then you can make up your own mind.

Making up one's own mind, thinking for one's self.......that's what it's all about !

Sincerely, Jerry Phillips, JHS Class of 1964       04/08/99

Pro: Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

Con: Citizens for Alternative Radioactive Dumping

Pro: United States Enrichment Corporation

Con: Citizens Awareness Network

Pro: U.S. Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board

Con: Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety

More Links (pro and con)

Report on Project Gnome, the 1961 underground nuclear test, west of Jal.