Ex - 'M - A - S - H' Star Lobbies Congress

AP via NYTimes.com ^ | 6/4/02

[GeneD]

Filed at 4:21 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Actor Mike Farrell, armed with a letter signed by 70 fellow celebrities, urged senators on Tuesday to vote against a plan to bury the nation's nuclear power waste at Nevada's Yucca Mountain.

Calling claims of safety for the Yucca site ``technically unfounded,'' the former ``M-A-S-H'' star said transporting the 77,000 tons of waste to Nevada would create ``an enormous target for someone who has an ill intention.''

Farrell, who now plays a veterinarian on the NBC series ``Providence,'' delivered the letter a day before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee plans to vote on whether to override Nevada's objections to the proposed waste repository 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas. The full Senate must approve the resolution by July 26, or the project will come to a halt.

The House overrode Nevada's veto in May.

Co-signers of the letter include actors Alec Baldwin and Tim Robbins, comedians Paula Poundstone and Rob Reiner, and singers Barbra Streisand and Harry Belafonte.

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On the Net:

Senate Energy Committee: http://energy.senate.gov/

[Sloth]

Conspicuously absent is any suggestion of where TO put it instead.

[Sloth]

... though one place comes to mind. :)

[Hacksaw]

Looks like the lunatic fringe of the Hollywood Left is out to save us from ourselves again. I would bet Sarandon signed it since her son Tim did.

[Billthedrill]

Well, I've read a number of technical pros and cons about this project by some of the most qualified engineers and geologists the country holds, but hey, I didn't know that a real live TV star and 70 celebrities were against it. Changed my opinion in the matter all right, you betcha...

[Lance Romance]

Whatever happened to Paula Poundstone child molestation rap?

[exnavy]

That's a very distinguished list of comrads, I would like to suggest a place for them each to "put" that waste!

[xrp]

let's dump it in his backyard

[Republicus2001]

Mike Farrell would prefer they use Malibu Canyon for the dump

[mhking]

Alec Baldwin...Barbra Streisand

With the mention of those two names, I don't have to read any further - the simple fact that they are tied to it means that there is nothing of substance to be heard here.

[Republicus2001]

Reiner put River Phoenix in his movie, Stand By Me, and had him smoke throughout, Phoenix was only 14 years old.
Secondary violence is much more harmful - SUPPORT THE DINGBAT-MEATHEAD BILL - STOP INDOOR MOVIE AND TV VIEWING NOW!

[JMJ333]

I don't know, but I wonder if they'd consider burying that bright yellow-green pantsuit that Poundstone showed up for court in along with the nuclear waste...

[csistrueblue]

Does anyone know if Klinger signed letter?

[JMJ333]

She got probation.

[biblewonk]

Nuclear power sucks!!!!!!!!1

[Atlas Sneezed]

Those waste containers are among the strongest things known to man. I would feel safe with one buried under my home, or in my back yard (if it weren't a large eyesore.)

[Wright is right!]

"the former ``M-A-S-H'' star said transporting the 77,000 tons of waste to Nevada would create ``an enormous target for someone who has an ill intention.''

An ill intention, Senor Farrell, and the means to go miles underground by force and extract the fuel - while we let them. Exactly how many Al Qaida does it take to do that, Senor Farrell?

Senor Farrell ignores the fact that any "rogue" with enough firepower to be able to blow up an entire American mountain is going to find many many MORE attractive targets than a spent-fuel dump out in the middle of nowhere.

We are also noting that Senor Farrell is NOT identified as the veterenarian father character on the NBC TV drama, "Providence." Wonder why.

Michael

[JMJ333]

The real eye sore is that lime thingy she's wearing.

[scholar]

77,000 tons of waste to Nevada would create ``an enormous target for someone who has an ill intention.''

While the likes of Mike Farrell and his ilk make me want to barf, it does seem that we have a tiger by the tail. It can stay on site leaving numerous targets, or it can be transported leaving a very visible and vulnerable target while in transit.

The waste will also have to pass through populated areas which is not going to make those citizens happy.

None of the available options are particularly appealing.

[jimt]

For those of you who are wondering who the heck this is...

Mike Farrell

My memory is zero compared to my wife. Fortunately, there's the internet...