Let all speak at nuke plant hearing

Dear editor:

I'm sorry to have to say this Kelly (Everett), But I feel I must tell you that I feel your take on the citizens of Elmore County being the only people to be for or against AEHI's proposal for a nuclear power plant is ludicrous.

The Snake River does not belong only to Elmore County; it also belongs to other counties downstream from it, such as Owyhee, Ada, Canyon, Payette, Washington, Adams, Idaho and Nez Perce in Idaho. Then it swings in to flow through Washington State where people depend on it as it flows through Whitman, Asotin, Columbia, Franklin and Wall Walla Counties.

After flowing through Franklin and Walla Walla Counties. It flows into the Columbia River, that borders Benton County, and continues its path to the Pacific Ocean affecting the Washington state counties of Benton, Klickitat, Skamania, Clark, Cowlitz and Wahkiakum, as well as the Oregon counties of Umatilla, Morrow, Gilliam, Sherman, Wasco, Hood River, Multnomah, Columbia and Clatsop counties, equally.

Just as the Snake River follows its path, winding its way south to us, it continues on its way affecting millions of people in its travels. Farmers depend on the Snake River's life giving water for their crops. Plants and fish depend on the river for water to survive. What if someone upstream from us decided to dam the Snake River or divert its direction, so that we would no longer benefit from it? Would that be right?

A nuclear power plant should have to be approved by everyone that might be affected by it, not just a few. This would include those people not living along the river. If something terrible happed at the power plant, there is no invisible wall to protect anyone living within its lethal range.

So I feel everyone has a right to get up in front of the planning and zoning commissioner to tell why this nuclear plant is a bad idea or a good one. Our country was founded on the "of the people, by the people, for the people" premise. Or did that change when I wasn't looking?

Catherine Brown