KCMO could become host to thousands of tons of elemental mercury

Submitted by Laharl on July 9, 2009 - 7:44am

That's right. There is a chance that those living in KC could now have the esteemed honor of hosting their area to insane amounts of a harmful substance. Just what you always wanted?
Is Independence going to be considered too? It's what, a few miles away? Do you think Independence or surrounding cities like Blue Springs should have a say?
 
www.fox4kc.com/wdaf-story-mercury-storage-070809,0,248282.story

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with millions of acers of nothing why put it here?????????
MAKES NO SENSE////////

Submitted by mminnoe on July 9, 2009 - 3:30pm.

The Bannister Road complex is walled or security fenced on all sides. Bendix used it to produce non-nuclear weapons systems. Donm't know its present use, but still high security.. It is probably exceeded for security only by the prison at Leavenworth.

Submitted by civil on July 9, 2009 - 5:48pm.

..........I can vouch for that......my ex and my dad worked there.......a friend was a security guard there......I coudn't think of a safer place as far as THAT goes......the only thing is......they say that they built that wall for flood control......I think it was a result of terrorist security measures.....but if ti was for flood control?.............the basement used to flood there in the 80s.......the wall was alledgedly never tested by the water after it was built......being a 500 year flood plane and all.....but my old boss lived in a 100 year flood plane......and it flooded three times in five years.........soooooooooooo.....................I'm probably just being paranoid..........I'm sure those storage containers will be water proof...........this ought to  get Laharl rolling................LMAO.........I'm sure there would be quite a financial reward for storing that stuff..........for somebody.......we get our water from KC I think.......it's along way from Independence..........we could all end up being  "mad hatters"...........like "Alice in Wonderland"..............like the old days..............for the youngsters out there.......when they discovered that the mercury in tophats was making people craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazy................kind of like how they think the rye fungus caused   hallucinations and the " Salem Witch Trials"............... yeah baby............mercury......................"gonna buy me a mercury"..................

eldoggg

Submitted by eldoggg on July 9, 2009 - 6:04pm.

Could this be a security risk?  Or a target? 

Submitted by Laharl on July 9, 2009 - 7:02pm.

......no worse than Lake City Ammo.......Whiteman Air Force Base.......(where the B2's are.....among others).....or for that matter.....Allied Signal ( the facility that they're talking about...used to be Bendix) ........Allied was making top secret military stuff like secondary detonating devices for nuclear warheads......as well as other  " Defense Dept" contracted stuff.........you had to be checked for  6 months to go to work there......doing nothing but reading comic books......while they talked to your 2nd grade teacher......your neighbors........checked your DMV records and evrything else under the sun.........HIGH SECURITY place.......they caught a guy there once with a flashlight that was a camera.......so it's ALWAYS been a place that could "draw fire".......as is "Lake City Ammunition"...........what a bang that place would make........if ti's gonna happen it's gonna happen.......mercury there would be a real long shot for any terrorist........a poor choice for a target......there are far too many easier choices around the world that wouldn't require half the thought or work...and would have much more impact......they want something high profile.......lots of attention........IN MY OPINION............ROFL.......of course......I'm NOT the "Director of Homeland Security".......or I would just issue evrybody a helmet and a bottle of  " Jack Daniels"..........ha ha ha ha ha............I stole your material mminoe..........

eldoggg

Submitted by eldoggg on July 9, 2009 - 7:33pm.

eldoggg, thank you for being so thorough.

Submitted by Laharl on July 9, 2009 - 7:39pm.

........lol.........I looked up your "stage name"...........did you like "Lord of the Rings?"..........I read all that Tolkein stuff in college......we used to "indulge".......then read...............I was pretty excited  when all the movies were coming out.....they did a pretty amazing job against the book.....it was no easy task ........there's alot of neat stuff to study about the books.............

eldoggg

Submitted by eldoggg on July 9, 2009 - 7:47pm.

I think the last 500 year flood was the one that did the Plaza in ......back in the 70''s? Since the water for KC comes from the MO. River up by the downtown airport, I don't think you have to worry about drinking water contamination, unless you scoop it up from a mud puddle. You reckon they might stire the stuff in containers a bit more durable than cardboard boxes? Good question for the public hearing.

Submitted by civil on July 9, 2009 - 6:52pm.

.......you're right.....I should have known......I was going to UMKC that afternoon  in  the fall of 1977  I  believe.......I left  1/2 hour before people were hanging on to trees down there......that was the" big one"........then I think they did some work.......we had another smaller flood around spring of 1982 I  think.....I put a Camaro under water in front of the "Lone Star" in Westport....in the dip in the road....it flashed on me.......

eldoggg

Submitted by eldoggg on July 9, 2009 - 7:22pm.

A classic of half-a** reporting. How is the material to be brought into the area? What safeguards will be in place, if required? How is it to be stored? Is it to be in a special secure area? What is the chance of any local contamination by the material?  Is this developing into everybody objecting and taking a "not-in-my-backyard" attitude?
You know, one of the big hangups of developing nuclear power has been disposing of the spent fuel. The people in Arizona don't want it in their mountain, so we are the laggard in nuclear energy development. Will the lack of  storage facilities for this volatile materiel mercury cause a cessation in gold processing and other necessary manufacturing operations, including the energy saving light bulb?

Submitted by civil on July 9, 2009 - 9:27am.

Civil, I was glad you responded, you are so intelligent and you have brought up some excellent points.  I hope there is an interest in this as I am sure anyone would hate to see it come.  It is odd how they can just show up and say o.k. Was there gonna be a vote or anything?

Submitted by Laharl on July 9, 2009 - 9:38am.

There will be a public hearing for all of the sites. The date for the one in KC is included in the article you reference, I believe. Ultimate selection will probably be by the EPA.  A large enough public outcry can put everything on hold. That is what happened with the spent nuke fuel disposal, which also stopped development of nuclear power, which we badly need. Be careful about that to which you object. The resulting stoppage might be more dire than the move forward. Storage area planned for the material is in the old Bendix facility (a federal site) on Bannister road at Troost.

Submitted by civil on July 9, 2009 - 10:06am.

Most people do not take time to go to public hearings and a large enough public outcry is very hard to get. This story like many needs people on top of it.

Submitted by ELISA on July 9, 2009 - 12:19pm.

You are corrrect, most people don't attend public hearings. You need look no further than Independence for verification of that. Part of the reason may be they don't read about them in the newspaper announcements, or perhaps they take the attitude that somebody else will take care of this. Then, when the subject of the meeting passes along against their wishes, the non-attenders are most often the loudest to complain and blame the government for not "listening" to them. Even if you don't or can't attend a letter to the authority holding the meeting will be put in the record. If really concerned, write the congressman or Senator who represents the district effected by the proposed project. There are more ways to get your thoughts known than physical attendance. Of course, physical presence is the most effective.

Submitted by civil on July 9, 2009 - 1:03pm.

Civil
A good letter would probably speak volumes, you are a good writer and extremely Gifted!

Submitted by Laharl on July 9, 2009 - 1:44pm.

I understand you do all you can. You make calls and write. Most people don't take the time. All is effective. 

Submitted by ELISA on July 9, 2009 - 1:35pm.

ELISA, you hook up with some people you know and get the word out.  This is your GIFT, to bring good to people and justice for all!  You are special, there is a reason you do what you do.  We need more people like you in the world!

Submitted by Laharl on July 9, 2009 - 12:23pm.

Thanks all of us need to do what we can. We just all need to work together.   xox

Submitted by ELISA on July 9, 2009 - 1:28pm.