To the editor:

I enjoyed the story about the failed effort in the 1960s-’70s to use the Lyons salt mines as a dumping ground for the nation’s nuclear waste. Even more than that, I enjoyed some public acknowledgment by the denizens of that region of the wrong-headedness of their zeal for that project.

The only thing missing from the article was a description of the important role played by Ron Baxter. At that time, he was the principal spokesman for the Sierra Club in Kansas. The economic-growth folks in the Lyons area were in blind pursuit of a handful of jobs. Mr. Baxter, much to their consternation, cried out in alarm. And he continued to do so until reason finally prevailed. But for those yeoman efforts, I’m not at all certain that the studies clearly demonstrating the unsuitability of the site would have happened. And, the Lyons area might be all aglow today.

Those who would have stoned Mr. Baxter and the Sierra Club then, ought to carve a monument to them now. And we should all thank the dissenters of the world who, when the dust settles, often turn out to be right.

Jerry Harper,

Lawrence