Raises Controversy
The construction of a nuclear
power plant in the Berwick area
has led to a great deal of
controversy. The Pennsylvania
Power and Light Company has
attempted to inform the public of
the safety of the power plant. The
local inhabitants, however, have
found little comfort in the electric
company’s words. The fear in
most cases seems to have been
instilled by the Three Mile Island
incident. The Susquehanna
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ae Susqui jnna Nuclear Power Plant near Berwk Pa. is located approximate 10 miles
Northwest of Highacres Campus. The plant's cooling towers can be seen from the foreground.
(Photo by Rick Eister and Tom Fellin)
Nuclear Power Plant is located
five miles northeast of Berwick
and ten miles northwest of The
Hazleton Highacres Campus.
There are several reasons why
this site was chosen. First, The
Susquehanna River can provide
the water necessary for cooling
purposes. A solid, stable base is
also needed due to the
tremendous weight of the plant.
This is provided by the two
thousand feet of solid rock
located beneath that area. Roads
and railways; .to bring in
Nuke Plant
materials and a labor force, are
also located in this area. Finally,
this site is located at the
crossroads of the PP&L Power
distribution system.
The owners of this 2.4 billion
dollar project are ninety percent
PP&L and ten percent Allegheny
Electric Cooperative. July 1,1981
is the date set for the first reactor
to start operation. October 2,1982
is the date set for the second
reactor to start operation. While
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building their power plant, the
electric companies are also
studying the possible effects it
will have on the environment.
Since 1971, the Radiation
Management Corporation, a
Philadelphia consulting firm has
been analyzing the food, water,
and air of the Berwick area. They
will be keeping constant records
of the levels of radioactivity in
the area. Also, Ichthyological
Associates Inc. of Ithaca, N.Y.,
have set up a laboratory and
collection station on the west
HAZLETON CAMPUS PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
bank of the Susquehanna River to
collect samples from the
environment before and after the
plant goes into operation.
The protesters feel that there is
still tiie danger of a nuclear
accident occurring in this area.
They feel that although the
technology has been developed to
a fairlysafe level, the chancesof
human error are v still there. A
protester of the plant, Mr. Fox,
says, “What I’m concerned with
is the actual usage of the nuclear
fuel and the waste moving all
around the highways. They have
already had accidents. The
storage plants are notorious. Two
of them have been shut down in
the last three weeks by governors
in their state for leaking
radiation. There is no way in the
world that they can do this
properly. They have not
exhibited any history,
whatsoever, of doing it
properly."
Editor’s Note:
Ronald Gatski, Pennsylvania
State Representative from the
Hazleton area, recently
discussed with a member of the
Highacres Collegian staff several
issues of major importance to not
only students at Highacres, but
also to students across the
country. The U.S. educational
system, the drinking age, nuclear
energy, and the Presidential
election of 1980 were the major
topics discussed. Mr. Gatski is
Vice-Principal of West Hazleton
High School and is currently
serving his second term in the PA
House of Representatives.
Collegian:
Approximately one-third of this
year’s freshman class at the
Highacres Campus was found to
have a deficiency in English or
Math. This is only an example of
the situation around the country.
Does this indicate a major
problem in the U.S. educational
system or is there a problem in
another area?
Gatski:
I really don’t know. I was
unaware that there was a
problem.
Collegian:
Most colleges are finding out that
a frighteningly large number of
entering students do have a
Inside This Issue
Exams Draw Closer Page 2
Three Things You Should
Know About N.Y.C. Page 3
Album Reviews Page 4
Classified Ads Page 5
Ed Nyerick and Sports... Pg. 6,7
Nov., 79
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deficiency in English, and they’re
worried about it. These students
must take basic English courses
before they can continue with
.their college work.
Gatsld:
Very possibly. I assume that you
can place some of the blame on
the school system. I’ve been
teaching twenty years and in
those twenty years the system
has changed so much. I think that
many years ago there was a more
structured form. We dealt
strictly with the 3R’s, and I think
maybe it may have been better as
far as at leak getting the proper
background. Through these years
I’ve seen our curriculums change
so vastly that I don’t know if
we’re putting enough emphasis
on the so called 3 R’s of
education.
Collegian:
In other words, going back to the
3 R’s may be a good idea?
Gatski:
Right Again, I’m not sure where
we can lay the blame. I’ve
graduated from the Hazleton
School District, and I’ve been
teaching here, and I don’t know. I
haven’t seen any change in the
teachers. I don’t think the
teachers have lost any
dedication. I don’t know where
(Cent on page 8)