by Joshua J. McElwee on Aug. 30, 2011 NCR TodayKANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The legal battle over the construction of a major new nuclear weapons facility here intensified Monday, with lawyers for the plant's backers intervening to slow down possible issuance of a court order forcing a city-wide vote on the plant's construction.
The intervention, which saw some ten attorneys for the plant's operator and construction company present a bevy of new documents to Circuit Court Judge Edith Messina, was the latest in a years-long local struggle over what is set to be the nation's first new nuclear weapons plant in 33 years.
Activists say an arrangement between the city and the federal government, which, in a first for a nuclear weapons facility, gives title to the facility to a state agency, means the city has the power to prohibit nuclear weapons production there.
They presented a petition before the city government in May asking for a city-wide vote that, if passed, could compel the operator of the new site to cease nuclear work in favor of green energy production. With over 4,000 signatures in support of their initiative, its backers say the city is required to place it on a ballot, as the city charter mandates any petition with over 3,572 signatures go before voters.
The city council disagreed Aug. 25, saying that while activists' petition may have enough signatures, it "conflicts with the constitutional power of the federal government to provide for the national defense."
These kind of Non-Violent actions give me hope something can and will be done against NEW US Nuclear Weapon Production !Ak Malten, Pro Peaceful Energy Use
Legal fight over nation's newest nukes plant intensifies
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