[flutters]

Arizona nuclear plant reportedly received specific threat

Robbie Sherwood
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 20, 2003 09:35 AM

National Guard troops were posted around the Palo Verde nuclear plant this week reportedly because of a specific terrorist threat against the facility.

Gov. Janet Napolitano did not confirm a threat against the plant when she sent National Guard troops there on Tuesday, saying only that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security had received a number of unspecified threats.

But The Washington Times reported Thursday that "terrorists have targeted the United States' largest nuclear power plant west of Phoenix, and security officials are looking for Iraqi government 'sleeper cells' that might carry out the attack."

The threat was described as "uncorroborated," and as part of classified intelligence reports given to local law enforcement and security officials.

Arizona's Homeland Security Director Chuck Blanchard said he could not comment about any specific threats. But he said he had complete confidence in the safety at Palo Verde, and added that even without a threat, Napolitano would have sent troops to the plant once the U.S. was put on Orange Alert status - second only to red in a five-color scheme to describe the threat level - because the plant is an "obvious target."

"I think the safest place to be right now anywhere may be within the walls of Palo Verde," Blanchard said. "The security even before the Orange Alert was very intensive. And now it's even more dramatic. Regardless of the truth or untruth of other media reports, it's a safe place to be."

Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., said it's not uncommon for federal authorities to receive information that requires more investigation. I have been assured by the Director of Counterterrorism at the FBI that their investigation ... is proceeding appropriately and that all necessary precautions are being taken."

The Washington Times' report Thursday also reported that six Iraqi citizens were detained earlier this week trying to enter the United States from Tijuana, 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.

[glory]

some specifics on the plant
http://www.srpnet.com/power/stations/paloverde.asp

sorry I'm still link impaired!

[glory]

some specifics on the plant


Palo Verde Nuclear Generation Station
Operator: Arizona Public Service Co. (APS)

Owners: APS
29.1%

SRP
17.5%

El Paso Electric Co.
15.8%

Southern California Edison
15.8%

Public Service Co. of New Mexico
10.2%

Southern California Public Power Authority
5.9%

Los Angeles Dept. of Water & Power
5.7%




Description: Uranium-fueled, steam-electric nuclear generating station. Palo Verde is a pressurized water reactor.

Capacity: 3,810 megawatts from three 1,270 MW units.

Plant construction: Construction began in June 1976. Unit 1 was completed in January 1986, Unit 2 in September 1986, and Unit 3 in January 1988.

Construction costs: $4.7 billion for construction and $1.2 billion for pre-operational and startup testing, for a total of $5.9 billion.

Environmental controls cost: According to a state of Arizona study, 22% of the facility's cost is environment-related.


Emissions from the plant: Palo Verde is a zero-emissions facility.

[glory]

Awesome page with info on it and nice pic of the plant

http://www.nucleartourist.com/us/pvngs.htm

Looks like my first idea of it's location was right on. I said 15 miles from my house in Phoenix and that was already 20 miles to the west of phoenix. This site has it at 34 miles west of Phoenix. Whew, all I knew is that some mornings we could see the steam plumes in the distance as we road down our street to work or errands.

[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!