Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant Targeted???

[flutters]

Glenn Beck mentioned that the National Guard is at Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant due to a terrorist threat. Has anyone got any information about this? I've searched the web and can't find anything more.

[Z-28]

Thanks for the pics :)

I've driven my car in the desert wash along the SD&AE railroad tracks which pass just south of the Palo Verde nuke powerplant - after making a wrong turn off old Highway 80 - not recommended for anything but Hum-Vees, Gila-monsters, and CJs.

[uncitizen]

What are the possible ways that the nuclear power plant could be hit? (serious question)

[hsmomx3]

I just got this via email from Channel 5:

Security is very tight along the Arizona- Mexico border. Customs agents say the border will remain open 24 hours a day and would only close if there was an incident at or near one of the checkpoints.

[hsmomx3]

Yep, it was found at Kolbe's brother's property.

[hsmomx3]

Hmmm.......she should be impeached. Don't I wish!! How about the local airports here in Phx., shouldn't they be cutting down on what's flying in/out?

[Eva]

That's Palos Verde in California, Palo Verde is the largest nuclear facility in the US, its near Phoenix.

[cinFLA]

Were is Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant? The only Palo Verde I know of is in So Cal... and there is no plant there

www.google.com

First hit: 45 miles west of Phoenix

[JustPiper]

Under the current alert, ALL nuke plants are protected by National Guard...

What happened to the rent-a-cops threatening to run?

[mtbopfuyn]

Hear on the radio 3 hours ago the FBI was looking for the guy in link below and that they had confirmed he was interested in Palo Verde. Sorry, this is the closest I could find to what was said on the radio so can't prove it.


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,81700,00.html

[lawdude]

I can't for the life of me come up with something that could constitute a threat to Palo Wormy (other than a nuke, which would, afterall, be redundant).

How could anyone hi-jack an airplane and crash it into the facility with the current security in place? I doubt that a direct hit from a commercial airliner would cause much of a breach.

What else could comromise the reactors?

Armed forces? Not likely as I think they would stand out like a foreign army on our soil.

Now, I don't deny that upgraded security is wise because, after all, the whole concept of terrorism is to attack in a fashion NO one would imagine.

OK Freepers, use your imagination and tell me what you would do to blow the plants.

Winner will be announced at a later date.

[Magic Fingers]

I'd assume that the nearby Luke AFB F-16's would provide substantial air protection for Palo Verde.

Maybe the greatest vulnerability would be from an "inside job"?

[flutters]

What are the possible ways that the nuclear power plant could be hit?

I think what most are worried about is the security being compromised from the inside. I'll post a link to a report that I found on the net. I can't vouch for the reliability/reputation of the organization that complied the report but it was an interesting read. http://www.pogo.org/p/environment/eo-020901-nukepower.html

[flutters]

I seen that guys picture on Fox News a little while ago. They didn't say anything about him being wanted because of the nuclear power plant...although it makes sense. I checked out his profile and it says that he may be a trained pilot. Interesting.

[Brytani]

The original poster is incorrect, the National Guard is NOT defending all of the nations nuclear plants. My husband works at Turkey Point in S. Florida and there has not been national guard units there in over a year, nor the other nuclear plant owned by the same company. (St. Lucie nuclear)

[AZamericonnie]

Amen to that but what about Sky Harbor, Deer Valley & the like?!

[madfly]

Mexico. And the paper reported that unnamed Border Patrol authorities confirmed that a backpack found last week on a southern Arizona trail frequently used by illegal aliens contained a diary written in Arabic. The sources said the diary, which was handed over to the FBI, contained names and telephone numbers of at least two people in Canada and Iran.

This article is dated Mar. 20th, yet we know news of this diary was dated Feb. 11th and the other dates in Hijinx previous post. Over a month an a half earlier that this article would have one believe. Not that it's a bad thing, lol, if it would wake up anyone!

[madfly]

http://c.bizjournals.com/ct/c/347683 http://c.bizjournals.com/ct/c/347684 Here are two stories from the Business Journal from yesterday afternoon.

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2003/03/17/daily62.html?f=et73

Security increased, feds investigate threats on nuclear plantMike Sunnucks and Diane Arthur   The Business Journal

Security continues to intensify at the Palo Verde nuclear plant as federal authorities investigate leads related to a possible terrorist strike against the facility.

Gov. Janet Napolitano deployed armed National Guard troops to the plant earlier this week at the request of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.

Today, Ridge and Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham confirmed they are investigating possible terrorist threats against the plant which is operated by Arizona Public Service Co.

The FBI also is involved in the investigation. Sen. Jon Kyl has been meeting with FBI counter-terrorism officials regarding potential threats to the plant and was told precautions are being taken and investigations are underway.

Palo Verde is the nation's largest nuclear power plant and sits approximately 50 miles west of Phoenix.

APS spokesman Jim McDonald would not comment on specific new threats to the company's nuclear facility. But McDonald did say the company's interactions with state and federal Homeland Security officials have intensified over the past two days.

Other state and federal officials involved in securing the plant also would not get into specifics about the threats.

"We don't discuss intelligence reports or actions taken in response to intelligence reports," said William Beecher, director of public affairs for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The NRC oversees nuclear plants nationwide and coordinates security efforts with federal anti-terrorism agencies.

Napolitano and state Homeland Security Director Chuck Blanchard have said several times this week that the nuclear plant is secure.

"We're still not going to discuss any specific threats," said gubernatorial spokeswoman Kris Mayes.

Mayes said the governor has not changed her schedule in response to international or homeland security situations.

McDonald said the biggest threat to the plant is not some catastrophic event but having it shut down due to threat, thus hurting regional power supplies and the economy.

The plant provides power to several states, including Arizona and California.

Sen. John McCain asked Abraham at a committee hearing this morning about Palo Verde security and received assurances that the protective actions are being taken.

McCain spokeswoman Rebecca Hanks said the senator's concerns stemmed from a story in this morning's Washington Times saying the plant was a terrorist target.

© 2003 American City Business Journals Inc.

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2003/03/17/daily61.html?f=et73

Virginia governor, Portland, D.C. mayors cancel Ariz. tripsMike Sunnucks   The Business Journal

The start of the Iraq war and concerns about terrorism have resulted in the governor of Virginia and the mayors of Washington, D.C., and Portland, Ore. canceling trips to Phoenix.

Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, Portland Mayor Vera Katz and D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams were scheduled to be in Arizona today and tomorrow to meet with Major League Baseball officials about bringing a team to their respective jurisdictions.

But the elected officials scuttled their travel plans amidst worries about terrorism on U.S. soil and the need to take care of homeland security needs in their respective jurisdictions.

Warner spokeswoman Ellen Qualls said the decision not to travel to Arizona was made yesterday after consulting with federal Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.

Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Portland are in the running for a baseball team if baseball owners opt to relocate and sell the financially struggling Montreal Expos. Other representatives of those jurisdictions did make the trip to Phoenix to meet with league officials.

[B4Ranch]

I heard on Fox this afternoon that the threat had been reduced. There was no mention of what the actual threat was.

[gabby hayes]

Could this have something to do with kryptonite

[SAMWolf]

Bump.