The other day, a group of Greenpeace protestors protested dirty energy outside of Pittsburgh, PA. This is an important swing state region and the Bush Administration is trying to use the strong-arm of the law to bust these activists chops! They are charging them with "damaging or attempting to damage an energy facility" even though plant personnel didn't even know they were there for an hour and 30 minutes after the press was notified. One of the climbers is an old friend and roommate. So I can attest that he is a great person who needs our support!
Greenpeace activists face felony charges
By Scott Beveridge and Bob Niedbala, Staff writers
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
PITTSBURGH - The FBI filed felony charges Thursday against six Greenpeace activists who breached security and climbed a 750-foot smokestack at a Greene County power plant a day earlier.
The environmentalists who were protesting President Bush's energy policy at Hatfield's Ferry Power Station were arraigned Thursday afternoon on federal charges of conspiracy and damaging or attempting to damage an energy facility.
The six activists were identified as Virginia Lee Hunter, 43, of Los Angeles, Calif.; Lynn Dyan Stone, 38, of Sorrento, Maine; Renee Claire Blanchard, 24, and Jessica Joyce Miller, 26, both of Washington D.C.; John Allen Watterberg, 26, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Joshua Raisler Cohn, 27, of Portland, Ore. They were released Thursday on $10,000 bond set by U.S. Magistrate Judge Amy Reynolds Hay.
The six climbed down from the smokestack at about 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, after about 15 hours, and were arrested by state police on charges of reckless endangerment, failure to disperse, criminal trespass, burglary, riot, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief.
However, they were surprised to be met by the FBI and taken to Greene County Jail after being arraigned at about 2:30 a.m. Thursday before District Justice Lou Dayich in Waynesburg, the group's attorney, Tom Wetterer, said.
"It's very surprising and unwarranted that they are facing these felony charges," he said at the federal courthouse in Pittsburgh, while his clients were being interviewed at the U.S. attorney's office.
"There were no destructive acts, no injuries and no interruptions to the plant," Wetterer said.
The FBI claimed otherwise in the criminal complaint. They said Peter Kotsenas, plant manager for the Allegheny Energy facility, told them work at the plant was "significantly impaired" because of the protest.
Trucks were turned away from the plant, and additional security guards were needed because of the activists, according to the criminal complaint. State police had more than 25 troopers at the scene. Agents from the FBI and police from Masontown and Cumberland Township and Greene sheriff's deputies also were at the plant Wednesday.
U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan said Thursday there are many ways to protest the government without impairing a power plant, scaling a smokestack and putting activists at risk of injury.
"This offense is serious," Buchanan said. "This type of activity simply cannot be tolerated."
Greenpeace notified reporters in e-mails about 8 a.m. Wednesday that the protesters were at the coal-fired power plant and climbing to the top of the smokestack.
State police were later called to the plant after the activists were spotted on the smokestack. State police Cpl. William Barnhart, of the Waynesburg barracks, said he received a cellular telephone call from one of the climbers, Jessica Miller, at about 10 a.m.
He said Miller told him that the climbers were with Greenpeace.
"She told me it was a peaceful demonstration, a nonviolent protest and they were going up the tower," Barnhart said.
Barnhart said he talked to Miller several times during the day and she kept him abreast of the group's activities on the smokestack.
The activists unfurled a 122-foot-long yellow banner that read "Warning: The Bush Energy Plan Kills; Clean Energy Now."
Power plant personnel did not know the protesters were on the property until a reporter called the company at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday.
"Obviously there are definite holes in security at power plants around the United States. Greenpeace is very concerned about that," Wetterer said.
He said the real security issue at the power plant in Monongahela Township is the risk to public health because toxic smoke bellows from the smokestack.
Janice Lantz, communication manager for Allegheny Energy, said the company "will be looking at why this happened and how it happened."
Lantz said the plant is manned by security guards around the clock. Allegheny Energy increased security at all of its power plants following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, she said.
"Obviously, we'll need to look at that again given what happened yesterday," she said Thursday.
Lantz also emphasized the plant operates in compliance with all federal and state environmental regulations. From time to time it has exceeded allowable emissions, but when it did the company worked with state and federal regulators to correct the problem.
"The company wants to be a good environmental steward and our goal is to comply with all the rules and regulations all the time," she said.
Greenpeace campaigner Casey Harrell said the 40-year-old plant was selected for the protest as a "symbol for everything that is wrong" with such power plants that are known to emit mercury into the atmosphere.
While Wetterer declined to say how the six managed to sneak past security onto the plant, he denied police reports that they cut a fence to enter the grounds.
The FBI said the plant is encircled by a chain-link fence and security cameras are posted around the perimeter of the grounds. They said plant security told them a hole had been cut in the fence by Greenpeace. The activists, once inside the fence, had to "cross heavy vegetation and rocks" and a roadway to reach the smokestack, court records show.