Nuclear Nebraska: The Remarkable Story of Little County That Couldn't Be Bought [Hardcover]

Susan Cragin (Author), U.S. Senator Benjamin Nelson (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 27, 2007

In 1989, the federal government, five state governments and two multinational corporations approached Boyd County, Nebraska with what looked like a wonderful deal: In exchange for permission to build a low-level nuclear waste dump on an abandoned farm, they would pay the county $3 million per year for the next 40 years. For that much money, they thought, wouldn't this poor community agree to just about anything? They couldn't have been more wrong."Nuclear Nebraska" tells the inspiring story of how Boyd County's farmers fought both the state and federal governments, and mighty Bechtel International. From their initial revolt to their hard-won victory, this powerful tale traces the community's transformation from a small group of isolationist farmers to a defiant band of environmentalists. The book chronicles how the farmers of this then Republican county threw their weight behind Democrat Ben Nelson, who delayed but could not stop construction at the site. The farmers then had to train themselves to be environmental experts and provide the kind of evidence that would trump that of Bechtel's high-paid engineers. They did, and the license to build was denied. "Nuclear Nebraska" is a gripping account of a community that refused to relinquish its rights to a government its people could no longer trust.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This inspiring story teaches a wonderful lesson of democracy in action.”

-Booklist

Book Description

In 1989, the federal government, five state governments and two multinational corporations approached Boyd County, Nebraska with what looked like a wonderful deal: In exchange for permission to build a low-level nuclear waste dump on an abandoned farm, they would pay the county $3 million per year for the next 40 years. For that much money, they thought, wouldn’t this poor community agree to just about anything? They couldn’t have been more wrong.

Nuclear Nebraska tells the inspiring story of how Boyd County’s farmers fought both the state and federal governments, and mighty Bechtel International. From their initial revolt to their hard-won victory, this powerful tale traces the community’s transformation from a small group of isolationist farmers to a defiant band of environmentalists. The book chronicles how the farmers of this then Republican county threw their weight behind Democrat Ben Nelson, who delayed but could not stop construction at the site. The farmers then had to train themselves to be environmental experts and provide the kind of evidence that would trump that of Bechtel’s high-paid engineers. They did, and the license to build was denied. Nuclear Nebraska is a gripping account of a community that refused to relinquish its rights to a government its people could no longer trust.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: AMACOM (June 27, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814474306
• ISBN-13: 978-0814474303
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,069,462 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular research, disturbing undercurrents, November 24, 2009

By 

A. Gunn "miss-ag" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nuclear Nebraska: The Remarkable Story of Little County That Couldn't Be Bought (Hardcover)

I lived in Nuckolls County (one of the other proposed dump sites before Boyd County was chosen as the finalist) during the late 1980s and can vouch for Ms. Cragin's excellent work in capturing the anguish caused by US Ecology's efforts to site a dump in rural Nebraska. The book is worth reading for her scrupulous, sensitive documentation alone.

But if you think you're not interested in a now-settled controversy that attracted little notice outside the Cornhusker State's borders, I recommend the book to anyone seeking insight into current American politics. It's all here -- the political rise of Ben Nelson, at this writing poised to become one of the deciding votes on health-care reform; the radicalization of rural America and its roots not in genuine political theory but in Hollywood images of "taking our land back"; the opening chasm between those living in the Information Age and those who believe that guns, social rigidity, isolationism and talk radio are the key to America's future.

My review isn't meant to dismiss the great victory the anti-dump citizenry achieved in Boyd County -- though even Ms. Cragin focuses far more on the beer-drinking, gun-toting antics of vigilantes groups such as the "Young Turks" and "Magnificent Seven" (self-named for celluloid heroes, but mainly composed of young white men with grudges, too much free time, and easy access to ammo) that the intelligent, persistent research that truly saved the day. But read the scenes where the locals throw a noose over a crossbeam to "welcome" African American dump officials and researchers to town and ask yourself how far this sort of thing is from some of the rhetoric we've heard since the 2008 elections. I'm stirred by the story of the people of Boyd County, but I weep for my country when I see the future to which Ms Cragin's book points.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing research and details!, October 1, 2007

By 

Sylvia Tooker (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nuclear Nebraska: The Remarkable Story of Little County That Couldn't Be Bought (Hardcover)

This true story, researched and told by Susan Cragin, is an amazing tale that is so captivating, I couldn't put it down. The author deserves great respect for digging out the complexities of a story spanning over 20 years. The book is especially interesting because it not only tells the story from the perspective of a group of people struggling to stop the powers-to-be from building a nuclear dump in their agricultural community, it includes the actions, motivations and insights from those supporting the dump. Getting both sides of the story makes this book special. The book is never a dry recounting of facts. It is a powerful read as it enlightens, inspires and entertains.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Her eye-opening account is moving and revealing., March 5, 2008

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nuclear Nebraska: The Remarkable Story of Little County That Couldn't Be Bought (Hardcover)

In 1989 five states and two multinational corporations schemed to locate a 'low level' nuclear waste dump in an isolated northern Nebraska county by offering them, $3 million a year for 40 years. The town officials agreed to host the site - but what evolved was unexpected on all sides: a fierce battle by Boyd county's farmers who fought corporations, the state and the federal government to prevent this from happening. Author Susan Cragin was asked to write this story by Greg Hayden, Nebraska's commissioner to the Compact charged with sitting the dump, who was opposed to the Boyd County selection process. Her eye-opening account is moving and revealing.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch