ML20239A322

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Opposes Util Plan to Build Atomic Reactor at Bodega Head Due to Location Near San Andreas Fault
ML20239A322
Person / Time
Site: 05000000, Bodega Bay
Issue date: 05/27/1963
From: Merrihue C
AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
To: Seaborg G
US ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (AEC)
Shared Package
ML20234A767 List: ... further results
References
FOIA-85-665 NUDOCS 8709170271
Download: ML20239A322 (6)
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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

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DEPARTMENY OF PltYSICS i'

DORKELEY d'. CALIFORNIA

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4 1{ay 27,1963 E

Dr. Glenn Seaborg I

Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission Vlashington, D'.C.

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Dear Dr. Seaborg:

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I am writing to express oppositionio' the plaii of 2G and2 '

to build an atomic reactor at Bodega Head.

Numerous'. reasons have l

been advanced by others.

Permit me to.suggest a new one.

i i

I myseIf am not competent to judge the safety or wisdom of

-l building a reactor on top of the San Andieas fault, but to the ave-an y'i rcge layman this sounds like virtual insanity.

fhere is.already i

an' undercurrent of fear concerning things radioactive among the general public.. This in,c'ombination with the added concern that a natural disaster could' trigger an atomic one has produced.an.

0

' l atmosphere of fear and distrust which can~not be argued away, re-gardless of'the merits of the argument.

B.111 ding this' reactor in the face of such widespread hostility will, I fear,' foster /the '

l impression that PG'and E, the AEO, and the scientific community.

l itself are.all oblivious to the safety and.' welfare of the general public.

.Such'a decision can only act'to enhance the anti-scientific'.j

. faction of tba population, to the detrizhent of us all.

.l Furthermore, there are va. lid conservationist arguments against

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9.r ; +. sacrificing a spot.of spectacular sceni'c '. beauty,' especially one.

  • locatec so close to a large population center. ' The anclogy with' Yosemite Valley is compelling.

On a typical summer weekend the.

.r.

3 campgrounds there are mobbed, and vacationers turned away by the i

i i

thousands, yet nearby. lies a second' valley of equal beauty, Hetch '

3

.Hetchy, which can not be enjoyed because.it was preempted years.

i ago.as n' reservoir..The needed water'could certainly have been' obtained elsewhere, and this disaster in conservation' avoided.

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But short-sighted arguments of ec.onomy and convenience led to the loss of an irreplaceable. natural resource, at a time when the fucure.

demands of a'n, expanding population were less obvion's.

In this base'.

it has not been demonstrated that a crisis is at hand, requiring l

4mmediate development of new sources of.powerr,.and even if there' were, it seems clear that various other. locations would do.

n

  • .t It is as noble an endeavor to prevent the destruction o'f

- 1 1

y beauty as to create,it, and. easier.

Jl.p:

f Sincerely i

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o a and Electric

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Publio Utilities. Commission -

, Ciaig Merr.ihtie'

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UNIVERSITY OF. CALIFORNIA,,

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.j-DEPA27McNT OF PHYSICS y, '

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.1(ay 27,.1963

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1 Dr. Glenn Seaborg'

' ' ' i- < j Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission

'j Washington, D'.C.

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Dear Dr. Scaborg:

q

'a I am writing to express oppositionio' the plaii of PG s.ndE l

to build an atomic reactor e.t Bodega Head.

Numerous; reasons have'.

j been advanced by others.

Permit me to.suggest a new one.

m I myseIf am not competent'to judge the safety or wisdom of

.M building a reactor on top.of the San Andreas fault, but to the ave- ' %

rage layman this sounds like virtual insanity'.

There is.already v 1.Q an undercurrent of fear concerning things radioactive among the *,

d j-general public.. This in.c'ombination with the added concern that i'

a natural disaster could ' trigger an atomic o2ie has produced.an-9 atmosphere of fear and distrust which can~not be~ argued away, re-9 d.

gardless of the merits of the argument.

Building this' reactor in-H

?'

the-face of such widespread hostility will,'I fear,' foster the

.T impressio ~n that 2G'and E,. the AEC, and the scientifici community

]

j itself are all oblivious to the safety and.~ welfare of the general' o.

f'..

public.

.Such'a decision can only act'to enhance the anti-sc1entific,j

. '. faction of the population, to the d.etriment of us all.

,y J'

Furthermore, there are valid conservationist arguments against' '

',:p; -

sacrificing a/ spot.of spectacular sceni'c.:beautyi especially one. -

1 located so close to a large population center. ' The anc1cgy with'

.1 l

. Yosemite Valley is compelling.

On a typical summer weekend the.

i campgrounds there are mobbed, and vacationers turned. away by the d

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thousands, yet nearby. lies a secund' valley of equal beauty, Hetch '

~!

Hetchy, which can not be enjoyed because.it was preempted years -

ago.as a reservoir." The needed water could certainly have been' v'H

}h -

obtained elsewhere, and this disaster in conservation' avoided.

. /;.i 1

But short-sighted arguments of economy and convenience led to the 3

.j..

loss of an irreplaceable. natural resource, at a time when the future. ::1 F

demands of ab, expanding population were.less obvious.-

In this case'",'.R it has not been demonstrated that a crisis is at hand, requiring a

+ l

- immediate development of new sources of.powerr, and even if.there'.,.

were, i'c seems clear that various other. locations would do.::

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1:s It is as noble' an en'deavor to prevent.the destractioniof '

  • l beauty as to create,it, and easier.

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i > *,, 'y Sincerely i Y@'j. i ' x %g opies to-yM 6

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Pacific Gas and' Electric.

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