trespassing Archives - Oak Ridge Today

Guest column: New fence was needed to improve Y-12 security

April 18, 2013 By Chuck Spencer Leave a Comment

Chuck Spencer

Much has been made of the decision at the Y-12 National Security Complex to improve security by extending one of our security fences. As the president and general manager of B&W Y-12, the management and operating contractor for the National Nuclear Security Administration, I believe it’s important that a few of the facts surrounding this change be understood.

In case you haven’t been following this matter, we moved the boundary fence (also known as the 229 boundary) closer to our main entrance. This was done in response to recent trespassing events at Y-12 in order to strengthen our security posture. The response to this decision has been overwhelmingly positive among the vast majority of the people who take interest in Y-12’s operations. We are gratified by that support. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Guest Columns Tagged With: 229 boundary, B&W Y-12, Chuck Spencer, demonstrations, fence, National Nuclear Security Administration, security, trespassing, Y-12 National Security Complex

Trespassing at Y-12 costs U.S. government thousands of dollars, NNSA says

April 7, 2013 By John Huotari 1 Comment

There is a greater threat of trespassing at the Y-12 National Security Complex, the National Nuclear Security Administration said last week when it announced plans for a new fence that would block a traditional protest area at the plant’s main entrance.

And the costs of responding to those threats are increasing, the NNSA said.

“Responding to these illegal acts of trespassing has cost the U.S. government thousands of dollars of additional expenses above and beyond what we have to spend to protect the plant during major protests,” the NNSA said in a statement released by spokesman Steven Wyatt on Saturday. “The security-related costs required to respond to protests is very large, but we cannot discuss our specific costs.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: National Nuclear Security Administration, Special Sections, Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex, Y-12 Security Breach Tagged With: costs, fence, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, protest, security breach, Steven Wyatt, trespassing, Y-12 National Security Complex

Y-12 fence that blocks protest area to remain up for now; judge questions lawsuit jurisdiction

April 5, 2013 By John Huotari 8 Comments

The temporary fence erected at the main entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex encloses an area, pictured above, that has been used for protests and vigils for years. Despite a court challenge Friday, the fence will stay up for now.

KNOXVILLE—The temporary fence that blocks a traditional protest area at the Y-12 National Security Complex will stay up for now.

A group that has used the grass field and small parking lot for protests and vigils near the Y-12 entrance at Bear Creek and Scarboro roads had sought to have the fence removed before an annual spring demonstration on Saturday. Workers started erecting it on Monday.

But the arguments about the fence and its alleged violations of the protesters’ First Amendment rights took a surprise turn in U.S. District Court in Knoxville on Friday.

District Judge Curtis L. Collier quickly raised a question about whether the court has jurisdiction to address the complaint filed Wednesday by the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, its board members, and people affiliated with the nonprofit organization. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, National Nuclear Security Administration, Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Curtis L. Collier, fence, First Amendment, Francis L. Lloyd Jr., John E. Eldridge, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, OREPA, protests, Ralph Hutchison, Suzanne H. Bauknight, trespassing, U.S. Attorney, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. District Court, William C. Killian, Y-12 National Security Complex

Workers erect fence around Y-12 area once used for protests

April 1, 2013 By John Huotari 3 Comments

After several recent trespassing incidents, workers put up a new temporary fence at the Y-12 National Security Complex on Monday. An Oak Ridge peace group objects to the fence because it encloses an area traditionally used for protests.

Workers started erecting a temporary fence at the Y-12 National Security Complex on Monday, enclosing an area that has traditionally been used for protests by an Oak Ridge nonprofit group.

Federal officials said they are installing the fence along Scarboro Road after three trespassing incidents involving five people in the past year. In one of those incidents, three anti-nuclear weapons activists penetrated a high-security area and splashed human blood and spray-painted slogans on the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, where bomb-grade uranium is stored.

On Thursday, the National Nuclear Security Administration said recent events have shown a greater threat of trespassing, and the response costs are increasing. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Special Sections, Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex, Y-12 Security Breach Tagged With: fence, National Nuclear Security Administration, New Hope Center, NNSA, Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, OREPA, protests, Scarboro Road, trespassing, Y-12 National Security Complex

Oak Ridge peace group has vigil today despite plans for fence at Y-12

March 31, 2013 By John Huotari 3 Comments

The government’s decision to erect a new fence in front of the Y-12 National Security Complex could affect plans for an annual spring demonstration next Saturday, but the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance announced it will have its weekly Sunday vigil today.

The group said the decision by the National Nuclear Security Administration to close off the area immediately outside the Y-12 gates at the intersection of East Bear Creek and Scarboro Roads is “aimed at preventing demonstrations and peace vigils by the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance and others.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Top Stories, U.S. Department of Energy, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Bear Creek Road, demonstration, fence, National Nuclear Security Administration, New Hope Center, NNSA, Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, OREPA, peace vigil, protest, Ralph Hutchison, Scarboro Road, Steven Wyatt, trespassing, U.S. Constitution, Y-12 National Security Complex

Y-12 to install new fence to reduce trespassing

March 28, 2013 By John Huotari 3 Comments

OREPA Protest at Y-12 National Security Complex

A new fence at the Y-12 National Security Complex would enclose this field near the entrance at Bear Creek and Scarboro roads, and the nonprofit organization that organizes demonstrations and vigils here plans to challenge the fence.

After three trespassing incidents involving five people in the past year, the National Nuclear Security Administration announced plans on Thursday to extend the boundary fence at the Y-12 National Security Complex along Scarboro Road.

The new fence will be relatively close to the road, an NNSA spokesman said. A field traditionally used for protests near the Y-12 sign at the entrance on Bear Creek Road would be behind the fence. The new fence would run along Scarboro Road from Bear Creek Road to New Hope Road, and it would also enclose New Hope Center, which is often used for public events.

The new fence, which would run along the U.S. government property line, is expected to be in place by April 4, the NNSA said.

“Events of the past several months have shown that there is a greater threat of trespassing on the site, and the costs for responding to this threat are increasing,” the NNSA said in a Thursday afternoon press release. ”Y-12 is taking conservative and appropriate measures to make such illegal actions more difficult.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: National Nuclear Security Administration, Special Sections, Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex, Y-12 Security Breach Tagged With: B&W Y-12, boundary fence, fence, July 28 security breach, National Nuclear Security Administration, New Hope Center, NNSA, Scarboro Road, trespassing, Y-12 National Security Complex

Y-12 protesters ask court to dismiss sabotage charges

January 22, 2013 By John Huotari Leave a Comment

The three anti-nuclear weapons activists pictured above allegedly cut through fences and vandalized a high-security building at the Y-12 National Security Complex in July and now face federal charges of property destruction, property depredation, and injuring national defense premises. From left to right the three are Michael R. Walli, Megan Rice, and Greg Boertje-Obed. (Submitted photo)

In one of a series of motions last week, the three protesters who broke into the Y-12 National Security Complex on July 28 asked a federal court to dismiss the new sabotage charges filed against them in December.

Attorneys for the protesters—anti-nuclear weapons activists Greg Boertje-Obed, Megan Rice, and Michael R. Walli—said the new charges, which could add up to 20 years in prison, are unconstitutional, vindictive, and selective. They said the new charges were brought because the defendants earlier refused to plead guilty to less serious crimes.

In addition, the sabotage charges are rarely applied to civilian conduct and should not have been used in this case because Y-12 is a private contractor site and not a military base, the four attorneys for the protesters said in a motion to dismiss filed in U.S. District Court in Knoxville on Friday.

Report: Oliver Springs man brandishes butcher knife, faces kidnapping charge

October 29, 2012 By John Huotari

An Oliver Springs man was charged with aggravated kidnapping and domestic assault after he allegedly brandished a butcher knife while arguing with his wife—from whom he was separated—laid on top of her, held the knife to his throat, and told her she could not leave, authorities said.

Mark T. Phillips, 36, of Half Moon Road went to the victim’s home on Edmonds Drive at about 7 p.m. Thursday. He let her take children in the home to school at about 7 a.m. Friday, and she sought refuge at the Oliver Springs Police Department, according to affidavits filed in Anderson County General Sessions Court by Oliver Springs Sgt. Rick Hamby.

There were four children asleep in the house at the time of the Thursday night argument, court records said. They range in age from 6 to 13.

Oliver Springs officers tried to locate Phillips, but he had fled. They later found him at an abandoned house near Foxwood Circle. He was aggressive toward police, the affidavits said.

In addition to aggravated kidnapping and domestic assault, he has also been charged with aggravated criminal trespassing. He remained jailed Monday afternoon.

Filed Under: Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: assault, Edmonds Drive, kidnapping, Mark T. Phillips, Oliver Springs Police Department, Rick Hamby, trespassing

Y-12 activists indicted by federal grand jury for trespassing, property destruction

August 9, 2012 By John Huotari 5 Comments

Three anti-nuclear weapons activists arrested July 28 in the high-security Protected Area at the Y-12 National Security Complex have been indicted by a federal grand jury on three counts of trespassing, property depredation, and property destruction.

The three defendants—Greg Boertje-Obed, Megan Rice, and Michael R. Walli—are expected to be arraigned this morning in U.S. District Court in Knoxville.

Y-12 protesters face new felony charges, judge releases two

August 3, 2012 By John Huotari 3 Comments

Note: This story was last updated at 1:14 p.m. Aug. 4.

KNOXVILLE—New felony property destruction charges were filed Friday against three anti-nuclear weapons activists who allegedly sneaked into the Y-12 National Security Complex on Saturday, and U.S. Magistrate Judge C. Clifford Shirley agreed to release two of the defendants.

The new charges carry stiffer penalties than the previously filed misdemeanor trespassing charges, including up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

The new charges were filed against Greg Boertje-Obed, Megan Rice, and Michael R. Walli, who have been detained at the Blount County Corrections Facility after being arrested at about 4:30 a.m. Saturday in the high-security Protected Area on the west end of Y-12.

Y-12 protesters plead not guilty, face Oct. 9 trial

August 2, 2012 By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Greg Boertje-Obed

Megan Rice

Michael Walli

KNOXVILLE—Three anti-nuclear weapons activists accused of illegally crossing four fences to get into a high-security area at the Y-12 National Security Complex pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal misdemeanor trespassing charges.

An Oct. 9 trial date was set for the three defendants, and U.S. Magistrate Judge C. Clifford Shirley scheduled a Friday afternoon hearing to help determine whether they should continue to be detained.

The three defendants—Michael R. Walli, 63, of Washington, D.C.; Megan Rice, 82, of New York; and Greg Boertje-Obed, 57, of Duluth, Minn.—have been jailed at the Blount County Corrections Facility.