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Moved to new spot, Y-12 protesters still demonstrate; three arrested

Posted at 5:54 pm April 6, 2013
By John Huotari 4 Comments

OREPA Spring Demonstration at Y-12

Protesters say “no” to the proposed Uranium Processing Facility in a demonstration across from the Y-12 National Security Complex on Saturday.  The area traditionally used by the protesters has been blocked by a fence erected this week. Pictured above at left are Greg Boertje-Obed and Michael Walli, two of the anti-nuclear weapons activists who penetrated the high-security Protected Area at Y-12 on July 28.

Forced to move to a new spot, protesters said three people were arrested on Saturday during an annual spring demonstration opposing the proposed Uranium Processing Facility at the Y-12 National Security Complex.

An area that has traditionally been used by the protesters near Y-12’s main entrance at Bear Creek and Scarboro roads was enclosed by a fence this week. So the protesters, who oppose Y-12’s nuclear weapons work, demonstrated across the street from the 811-acre plant.

Three of them were arrested during a mile-long march from the Oak Ridge Civic Center, where the demonstration started, and Y-12. They were Larry Coleman, 71, of Knoxville; Buddhist monk Gyoshu Utsumi, 60, of Newport; and Bill Ramsey, 65, of Asheville, N.C. All three were charged with impeding the flow of traffic, and they have been released from the Anderson County Detention Facility on $100-$200 bonds. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Bear Creek Road, Oak Ridge Civic Center, Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, OREPA, protesters, Scarboro Road, uranium processing facility, Y-12 National Security Complex

Government can close area previously used for Y-12 protests, U.S. attorneys say

Posted at 8:48 am April 5, 2013
By John Huotari 1 Comment

Y-12 Fence on Scarboro Road

U.S. attorneys argue that the federal government has the right to close a previously open public forum, including this area near the main entrance at the Y-12 National Security Complex that has been used for protests and vigils for years.

Note: This story was last updated at 9:23 a.m.

Protesters call it a violation of their First Amendment rights, but U.S. attorneys said a new fence at the Y-12 National Security Complex can remain in place because the federal government has the right to close a previously open public forum.

The new fence encloses a grass field and small parking lot near the main entrance to Y-12 at Bear Creek and Scarboro roads. It’s been used for protests, vigils, and gatherings for 25 years.

Workers started erecting a temporary version of the fence on Monday. Protesters have asked the U.S. District Court in Knoxville to order that it be removed before an annual spring demonstration on Saturday. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Federal, Government, Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Bear Creek Road, fence, First Amendment, protests, public forum, Scarboro Road, Suzanne H. Bauknight, U.S. attorneys, U.S. District Court, William C. Killian, Y-12 National Security Complex

Government should remove fence around Y-12 protest area by Saturday, group says in federal lawsuit

Posted at 8:32 am April 4, 2013
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Y-12 Fence on Scarboro Road

A coalition including the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance has asked a federal judge to order the removal of a temporary fence that encloses an area at the entrance to the Y-12 National Security Complex that has been used for protests and vigils for years.

A new fence erected this week at the Y-12 National Security Complex allegedly violates their First Amendment rights, and a coalition that includes the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance wants the federal government to remove it before an annual spring demonstration on Saturday.

In a complaint filed Wednesday, the coalition also asks the U.S. District Court in Knoxville to deny the government from ever blocking a small area near the plant’s main entrance. That area includes a grassy field and small parking lot near the green Y-12 sign at the intersection of Bear Creek and Scarboro roads, and it has been used for protests and vigils for about 25 years.

The National Nuclear Security Administration announced plans to erect the fence along Scarboro Road last week, citing three trespassing incidents involving five people in the past year, including the July 28 security breach. Workers started setting up a temporary version of the fence on Monday. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Top Stories, Y-12 National Security Complex Tagged With: Bear Creek Road, fence, First Amendment, National Nuclear Security Administration, NNSA, Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, OREPA, Scarboro Road, U.S. District Court, Y-12 National Security Complex

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

Posted at 3:43 pm 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

TVA high-voltage line fails, falls into city power lines

Posted at 2:07 pm November 28, 2012
By John Huotari 5 Comments

TVA Transmission Line Fails

A 161-kV Tennessee Valley Authority transmission line failed Wednesday morning and fell into 13,200-volt city power lines below it, knocking out power to 154 customers in west Oak Ridge for four hours. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge Electric Department)

A high-voltage Tennessee Valley Authority power line came loose and fell into Oak Ridge power lines below it Wednesday morning, and about 154 customers on the west end of town lost electricity for roughly four hours.

But power was restored to all customers just after 1 p.m. Wednesday, said Margaret Elgin, Oak Ridge Electric Department engineering manager.

Elgin said a 161-kilovolt TVA transmission line failed in a wooded area near Bear Creek Road in west Oak Ridge at about 9 a.m. Wednesday. As a result, a conductor came loose, and the line fell into 13,200-volt city electrical lines below it.

Elgin said there was no threat to public safety during the line failure or power outage.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Government, Top Stories Tagged With: Bear Creek Road, electricity, Margaret Elgin, Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Electric Department, power lines, Tennessee Valley Authority, TVA

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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