Below is an editorial that is in the Sunday, January 30 Olympian. The editorial is in favor of the militarization of the Port of Olympia and criticizes T.J. Johnson of the Olympia City Council for his concerns about this issue. As I pointed out in an article that I wrote for the new February Works in Progress, the Militarization of the Port was done in semi-secret, because it was released without any notice that would have been seen by the public. As the Olympian notes, “The Coast Guard posted notification of its actions in The Federal Register, the official publication of federal rules and executive orders. The Coast Guard could have done a better job of communicating its intent and giving the public an opportunity to weigh in.” Given that the staff of the Olympian itself did not know of this new rule until members of the peace community informed them, this is the height of hypocrisy. The City Council was not informed, nor were the local police and fire departments, according to the Olympian (in a story they wrote 3-4 months after the fact-the first proposal was on October 12, 2004 and the rule was proclaimed, without public knowledge, on December 10, 2004.) (Please see my article that I sent to this list on January 23rd or see it in the new Works in Progress.) It is particularly hypocritical to criticize Councilman Johnson since he is doing his exact duty to look out for the interest of the people of Olympia. You may recall that he was one of the voices that raised safety concern about the proposed visit by the nuclear submarine the USS Olympia last year. We were told, by those who supported the visit, that there had never been an accident on a US nuclear submarine and we were being unpatriotic and hysterical. Actually the USS Olympia, itself, was in an accident in 2000 (see #1 and #2 below). This accident was at least the fifth reported accident of US nuclear submarines in the past few years (see #3 and #4 below). This past month on January 8th, the USS San Francisco, of the Los Angeles class-the same as the USS Olympia-had a fatal accident when it crashed into an underground mountain near Guam (see #5 and #6 below). This crash was heavily reported in the New York Times (January 9, 12, and 15) and elsewhere, but I only saw a 2-inch column story in the Olympian and it was quite unclear. We should thank T.J. and others for their work. We should not tell them that they have no right to be concerned about the safety and cost issues. If you agree, you may want to thank T.J. in a public letter and critique the Olympian for wanting public safety issues to be done in secret (the opposite role of what a newspaper should be). I would write a letter myself, but I just had a letter published this past Saturday to clear up another matter that the Olympian made mistakes about. This issue has local ramifications (city and port) and national and international ones (nuclear submarines and shipments for war.) Please do what you can. Olympian Editorial http://www.theolympian.com/home/news/20050130/opinion/78315.shtml Our Views Security zone makes sense Coast Guard officials were right to establish a permanent security zone off the Port of Olympia dock to better protect future military shipments. The zone, which prevents other vessels from coming within roughly 300 feet of a military cargo ship, went into effect Dec. 10. Olympia City Councilman TJ Johnson is off base with his criticism. The Coast Guard has an obligation to protect military vessels as they load and unload cargo at the port docks. This is an issue of national security -- far beyond the purview of Johnson and the other members of the Olympia City Council. Perhaps Johnson doesn't understand that the world has changed since the Sept. 11 attacks by terrorists. National security is a top priority, and an incredible amount of time and money have been invested in bolstering security measures -- whether it's increased passenger screening at airports or more agents patrolling the nation's borders. Officials recognize that U.S. ports are a weak link in the nation's self-defense system. Poor tracking of cargo containers makes the ports especially vulnerable to an attack by terrorists bent on destruction. Like it or not, the Port of Olympia is a working port with ships coming and going on a regular basis. One important new shipping client is the U.S. military. For the first time in 17 years, the military has taken advantage of the Olympia port to ship cargo bound for the troops fighting in Iraq. The shipments have boosted port revenue, but they also have sparked minor protests from anti-war activists. Those protesters have every right to voice their objection to the military shipments. They do not, however, have a right to trespass, damage port property or break any other law. And just as the protesters have a right to be heard, the U.S. Coast Guard has a right and an obligation to make sure the loading and unloading of cargo is carried out without incident. The bombing of the USS Cole shows the vulnerability of military ships while berthed. The Oct. 12, 2000, attack in a Yemen port took 17 U.S. lives. During the six military shipments across the Olympia docks, the Coast Guard has imposed a 300-foot-wide temporary security zone. The zone does not restrict boat traffic in Budd Inlet. In fact, making the zone permanent serves boaters because there is no doubt the security barrier is in place every time a military vessel is in port. Port of Olympia officials posted notices of the security zone at entrances to Swantown Marina. Boat owner Larry Tramblay is right when he says, "The added security is a good thing." Councilman Johnson is raising a ruckus because there was no public hearing before the security zone was established. The Coast Guard posted notification of its actions in The Federal Register, the official publication of federal rules and executive orders. The Coast Guard could have done a better job of communicating its intent and giving the public an opportunity to weigh in. Port of Olympia commissioners cannot be faulted for not having a public hearing, because they have no jurisdiction over the public waterways. That's the responsibility of the Coast Guard, and imposing a safety zone around military cargo ships is both practical and prudent. In this case, Councilman Johnson is sticking his nose where it does not belong. ******************************************************** 1) News article from Honolulu Star Bulletin about accident on the USS Olympia http://starbulletin.com/2000/04/12/news/story2.html Wednesday, April 12, 2000 By Ken Ige, Star-Bulletin The USS Olympia at Pearl Harbor is the Navy's 104th nuclear-powered submarine and the 29th of the Los Angeles class. It was commissioned in 1984 and has been based at Pearl Harbor for 13 years. Mishap aboard Pearl nuke sub injures worker At least two workers were exposed to radioactivity By Gregg K. Kakesako Star-Bulletin One shipyard worker was injured during an accident on the nuclear attack submarine USS Olympia this morning at Pearl Harbor. The accident, which occurred at 5:37 a.m., injured one civilian shipyard worker who was taken to Tripler Army Medical Center, treated and released. The sub's nuclear reactor was not operating at the time and had been shut down for two weeks. Shipyard workers were working on the sub's propulsion plant when a leak was detected, and water was being diverted to the Olympia's bilges. The shipyard worker was injured when a valve on the main coolant water line blew and he backed away, bumping into another object, hurting his head. At least two shipyard workers received small amounts of radioactive material on their skin which the Navy said was removed by washing, and there was no significant radiation exposure. The main coolant water was rerouted from the propulsion plant to the ship's bilge. Shipyard employees said about 300 gallons of main coolant water had to be pumped into the ship's bilges, and it was not known if the water had been contaminated. Valerie Leong, Pearl Harbor spokeswoman, said she did not have information on the report. The 360-foot Olympia is one of 21 Los Angeles-class attack submarines home-ported at Pearl Harbor. It is the Navy's 104th nuclear-powered submarine and the 29th of the Los Angeles class. The Olympia, which is commanded by Cmdr. Robert Brennan, returned from its latest six-month western Pacific deployment in December. It has been at Pearl Harbor for 13 years. The state Department of Health's Noise, Radiation and Indoor Air Quality Branch was on standby this morning after it was determined that the incident posed no general public danger, said branch manager Russell Takata. © 2000 Honolulu Star-Bulletin ****************************************************** 2) Congressman Neil Abercrombie statement on the accident on the USS Olympia accident 2000 http://www.house.gov/abercrombie/pearlharboraccident.htm April 12, 2000 Abercrombie statement on Pearl Harbor accident (USS Olympia) Congressman Neil Abercrombie made the following statement about this morning’s accident aboard the USS Olympia (SSN 717) at Pearl Harbor Intermediate Maintenance Facility. "I have expressed to the Navy my concern about the health and safety of the workers and crew aboard the Olympia at the time of the leak, other Pearl Harbor employees, and the surrounding community. The Navy has informed me that: the incident was quickly stabilized; there has been no release of radioactivity into the environment; all of the personnel involved are being properly evaluated; and extensive monitoring is being conducted. I have made it clear to the Navy that these monitoring, evaluation and stabilization efforts should continue to ensure quick action if further problems are discovered." ***************************************************** 3) The USS Olympia accident was at least the fifth accident that has occurred in Hawaii with nuclear submarines. Thursday, April 13, 2000 http://starbulletin.com/2000/04/13/news/story6.html Navy: Leak aboard nuclear sub never posed a danger Workers aboard the USS Olympia simply wash off slightly radioactive water By Gregg K. Kakesako Star-Bulletin Three Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard workers were exposed to minute traces of radiation when water leaked from a pipe in the propulsion plant of the nuclear-powered submarine USS Olympia yesterday. But the Navy said there was never any danger to the environment from the radioactive water or to the workers. The radioactive water is now stored in one of the submarine's bilges, Navy spokesman Jon Yoshishige said. This was at least the fifth accident at the shipyard involving nuclear submarines, but none has involved nuclear systems on the subs. In 1998 the Navy reported that: An ensign on the USS Los Angeles had to stop the closing of a torpedo loading hatch because proper safety procedures were not followed. A Navy diver was injured while removing the propeller on the USS Columbus. The equipment the diver used to loosen a propeller nut broke loose, striking the diver. The diver was treated for a scalp cut. The removal of a protective cover for a sea water system valve on the USS Key West was not properly done, causing some flooding. There was an electrical maintenance problem on the USS Chicago. Yesterday, the Los Angeles-class submarine USS Olympia -- one of 21 at Pearl Harbor -- was undergoing routine maintenance at a shipyard facility next to the submarine base when the leak occurred at 5:37 a.m. The leak was detected when water was being returned to the propulsion plant system following maintenance on a valve in the sub's reactor compartment, Yoshishige said. About 500 gallons of water were released and drained into the reactor bilge, where waste water from that part of the ship is collected. The reactor was not operating at the time and had been shut down for more than two weeks. Six shipyard workers were in the reactor compartment when the leak occurred. Three workers received small amounts of radioactive material on their skin but washed it off with soap and water, Yoshishige said. Another worker also suffered a minor cut on the head. He had backed into an object as he was moving away from the leaking pipe. The worker was treated at Tripler Army Medical Center and released. His name was not released. *********************************************** 4) News reports of several submarine accidents, some Los Angeles class, the same as the USS Olympia. http://starbulletin.com/2001/02/10/news/story3.html ******************************************************* 5) CNN story about USS San Francisco (Los Angeles class-the same as the USS Olympian) nuclear submarine in an accident that killed one and injured many others. According to the Navy there was no release of radiation or damage to the reactor. Of course. http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/01/10/nuclear.submarine.update/ ************************************************************* 6) Picture of USS San Francisco in dry dock after accident 350 miles south of Guam http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=21183