I’m not kidding either. While El Geraldo has been tramping around the world getting married to genocidal dicator’s daughters, it appears he’s been letting things slip around the District.
Exelon is seeking a renewal from the NRC for Dresden II and III reactors near Morris. In 2004 the Radiation Public Health Project pointed out evidence that Grundy County had seen increases in the incidence of child cancer rates in the mid to late 1990s and several people in the community approached their legislative leaders for help. The Tribune reported on the issue in a brief article in January of 2004.
Constituents approached Weller about the issue in an attempt to figure out the cause of the increases and try to determine if Exelon was at fault. Weller and staff ignored them.
So they kept trying to find help and it turns out Ed Markey of Massachusetts helped them out with a series of inquiries to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. I’m trying to get ahold of his correspondence now, but Weller was absent.
The story turns more problematic today when we now know that Exelon had several tritium leaks that were never reported to state authorities and only informally reported to the NRC. The information we have now from Exelon indicates the tritium in the groundwater isn’t at unsafe levels though it is above typical levels for the area, but the information surrounding the tritium leaks is scarce.
These sorts of cases are very difficult to sort out–environmental exposure to cancer causing agents is fraught with difficulties. I’d say it is safe to say there isn’t enough evidence to determine the cause of the increased incidence in childhood cancers for the period, but it sure would be nice to have had someone looking into it–especially since Exelon wasn’t being forthecoming to the public. However, given the elevated incidence was known two years ago and constituents were asking for help, where was Jerry?
And why the hell did Ed Markey, a Congressman from Massachusetts have to go to bat for Jerry Weller’s constituents?
But don’t worry, now that it’s a big deal, Jerry’s on the scene. He’s now demanding action from Exelon to pay for the costs from the leaks.
Two years later after it made the news. Not only that, but Obama was ahead of him on the issue after he found out about it–and he wasn’t even in office in 2004. More later–I’m working on getting the Markey correspondence.
Plus, his staff no doubt stole the idea of making Exelon pay from ME they spend enough time reading my blogs! BTW Exelon is one of Jer’s top contributors.
Worst Illinois state representative?
What a fucking measly public service performed by the least original state representative in the history of Illinois and endorsed by the most sycophantic member of Lee Enterprises. What a pairing!
“THUMBS UP! To Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, for legislation that would increase the penalty for anyone convicted of stealing from a charitable organization. Mitchell points out that burglary from a church and other institutions is a Class 1 felony, and his legislation would place stealing from a charitable organization in the same category. Mitchell proposed the bill after more than 200 pounds of frozen turkey and chicken were stolen from the Northeast Community Fund building at 825 N. Water St.”
above from today’s Decatur’s Herald & Review
Talk about useless, and unoriginal legislative behavior, do not leave out this little gem from Illinois state representative Bill Mitchell.
>>>>
This story published online:
Mon Nov 10 00:36:17 CST 2003
Ditch Mitchell’s farm vandalism plan
H&R Staff Editorial
MOST PEOPLE would agree that those convicted of vandalizing equipment and property should be penalizedin accordance with the law. But there is no reason to adopt a proposal by Rep. Bill Mitchell, R-Forsyth, that would make vandalizing farm and agricultural equipment a more serious violation.
It’s reprehensible that some criminals recently decided to vandalize several agricultural machines during the recently completed harvest season. The criminals were caught and are being prosecuted.
It seems that would be adequate. But Mitchell, in what could cynically be viewed as political opportunism, has proposed legislation that would effectively make vandalism of a farm truck a more serious violation than vandalism of a construction company’s vehicle. Is af farmer’s equipment more valuable than that of a person in another occupation? Of course not.
If Mitchell believes that the punishments for vandalism should be strengthened, he should do it for all victims, not those in a particular industry. It’s understandable that farmers suffer when their equipment is vandalized. But so do homeowners, railroad companies, home builders, landscapers and other victims.
I think it’s important to keep in mind exactly just how much radioactive material we’re talking about in this case. Plenty of anti-nuclear activists like to prey on people’s fears on the unknown, and that’s always been the case with radiation.
The following is from a fact sheet my organization has prepared on the situation:
For perspective, the amount of tritium in the groundwater at the nuclear power plant with the highest and most extensive levels of tritium is far less than the amount of tritium in a single ‘exit’ sign. Many industrial-grade exit signs contain 10 to 20 curies of tritium gas. By comparison, the average concentration of tritium in groundwater at nuclear plants is at or below the EPA standard for tritium in drinking water?0.02 microcuries per liter.
If I can answer any other questions, please let me know.