Nuke project a bad idea

Dear editor:

It seems to be apparent that we should address where heavy industry is located according to a well thought out comprehensive plan that looks towards the future lives of our children and grandchildren.

We need to resolve confusion as to where we want heavy industry and not just think of instant short term gratification.

It doesn't seem appropriate to grant an M2 zoning to a single developer (with no apparent assets) in the middle of agricultural land on the Snake River.

1. First of all, if M2 zoning, including hazardous waste, is situated in the middle of agricultural land, the Ag A land surrounding toxic waste such as nuclear radioactive waste will be ruined. No one wants to buy agricultural products grown next to a nuclear plant with nuclear waste stored on site for the foreseeable future.

2. Heavy industry located on the Snake River is a grave concern for the most important waterway in Southern Idaho. Any land used for heavy industry should first be studied for its geology, hydrology, seismic and erosion concerns, especially located on the Snake River.

3. Also, a comprehensive plan should place M2 in the same area or adjacent areas not in the middle of Ag A land along a major river waterway for Idaho. Additionally, the river is not cold enough or large enough for a large nuclear reactor; and in drought conditions Ag A would be the first to have their water shut off in deference to a nuclear plant.

4. There is no legal document or agreement that would ensure that an M2 zoning for a proposed nuclear power plant on Nick DeRuters property on the Snake River could or would revert back to a Ag A if the nuclear power plant was not built on this site within a designated amount of time. There is no protection that any other heavy industry such as a mercury dumping or an animal rendering plant would not be built on this site. In fact, there are people who are looking for this kind of M2 zoning right now, as not many areas would allow this type of toxic heavy industry to be located in the middle of already successful agricultural residential or downtown communities.

In addition, only 80 permanent jobs will result at this plant, in 10 to 15 years from now, jobs drawing from qualified applicants probably not found in Elmore County, or Idaho in general, but it will take away more than 250 jobs now needed for agriculture directly and jobs that mostly go to Elmore County residents.

Finally, issues of the moment should not necessarily dictate land use as the entire scope of land use should be considered.

A single developer should not dictate large changes in our comprehensive plan for Elmore County without thinking through the effects of change for years into the future.

If this developer is allowed to spot zone his nuclear plant on the Snake River in the middle of Ag A land a precedent would be set for locating M2 up and down the Snake River in Elmore County, putting our important waterways and adjacent agricultural land at risk.

Jeremy Thomas

Hammett