Plant Neighbors Eye Expansion With Caution, Concern

The expansion would fulfill Carolina Power & Light Co.'s desire to open two existing cooling pools to store spent fuel, making the Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant home to the largest amount of nuclear waste in the country.

CP&L's plan would not entail physical expansion, at least for now, and many residents say they have learned to coexist with the plant.

But some, such as Woodrow Goodwin, say they are concerned about how their own property would survive if the plant began looking beyond its own boundaries. "I just hope they don't expand (the plant) because if they do, they might get me," he said.

Goodwin's farm, located at 4300 Shearon Harris Road, stretches across 190 acres. Born and raised in New Hill, he has farmed in the same area for 67 years. "Daddy bought the place in 1915," he said. "I've been down here 67 years and farmed (the land) all my life. I always milked cows and grew tobacco."

Goodwin said plant officials first approached him in 1970 when they initially thought more land would be needed for plant construction.

"They said they were going to (take my land) before now, but they run upside a bad stump when they hit me," he said. "I told him, `You might take it, but I'm not going to sell it to you.'"

Beth Goodwin, Woodrow Goodwin's daughter-in-law who has lived in New Hill for seven years, said she was not concerned about expansion of the plant, as long as it was contained.

"I don't really have a problem with (the expansion) as long as they don't come across the new U.S. 1 and keep a buffer zone," she said.

But Beth Goodwin said there are signs the plant won't stay put for long.

Her home at 4232 Shearon Harris is only two miles from the plant itself, and with each day, more trees are being cut down, she said. "It's bad enough they've cut down these trees," she said. "You used to could see just the cooling tower and now you can see more than I care to see."

Such concerns about the plant's possible encroachment on to nearby land overshadows most worries about safety.

Woodrow Goodwin said the plant's potentially hazardous impact on the community was not one of his primary concerns. "I think there is very little danger in it," he said. "It's been here this long. (The plant officials) tell you what's going on."

One way residents are kept informed is through a radio, distributed by Carolina Power & Light Co. to people living within five miles of the plant. The radios transmit signals from the National Weather Service, alerting residents in the event of a plant emergency.

Another means of communication between the facility and its neighbors is through a newsletter distributed by plant officials.

Cecil Stone, of 4048 Bonsal Road, has lived in New Hill for the past 20 years. He said he thinks the plant does a good job communicating with the residents. Stone also said he thought the possible on-site expansion posed little threat to the residents.

"I worked there for 10 1/2 years," he said. "I have very little concern about the plant blowing up because of the way it's designed."

Stone, who worked as a pipe fitter at Shearon Harris, said he saw firsthand the safety measures taken by workers.

"When we built it, everything in there was doubled, so you have a backup for everything if something breaks," Stone said. "The Nuclear Regulatory Commission makes sure it's built right."

Other residents, who were initially bothered by the plant when it was constructed, said their concerns had quieted over time. "In the beginning, we marched and all that, and now it has quieted down," said Daisy Murray, of 3738 Old U.S. 1. "I'm just not as active in it as I was."

Murray said she has lived in New Hill for 30 years. Her home is very close to the plant.

"The thing of it is this has been going on for years and years," she said. "It goes down, and it boils up again. Of course we're concerned. It's a nuclear plant. Who wouldn't be concerned?"

But Lynn Michael, 4208 New Hill-Holleman Road, who bought her land in 1991, said her experience with the plant has been positive, and she felt no reason to be worried about the plant's potential hazards. "I consider it to be a safe plant," Michael said. "The safety rate so far has been wonderful, and they monitor and test constantly."

Michael owns 57 acres of land that is bordered by CP&L's property. She said plant officials visit her home every summer to check her produce and water, making sure it is not radioactive.

But some residents said they are not really familiar with the plant at all.

Ricky Rush, of 7051 Old U.S. 1, said he has lived roughly two miles from the plant for about 22 years.

"As far away as I am from it, it's not really going to affect me that much," Rush said. "I don't even know what's over there, so I can't say."

But others said they knew the plant was under heavy pressure to maintain safety standards.

Beth Goodwin, who worked at the plant for 13 years, said the plant was heavily scrutinized by both the NRC and CP&L's own people, raising the level of safety. "They're very conscientious about safety," she said. "I wouldn't have worked there as long as I did if I thought it wasn't safe."

Michael, whose house was built three years ago in New Hill, said she felt very comfortable living near the plant.

"They are wonderful neighbors."

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