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Show SALT LAKE CITY, UTA- H- FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1975 Moss Blasts ERDA for Delay Rampton Asks On VITRO Tailings Problem Legislature for other unrelated sites." Moss said the tailings problem at the Salt Lake County site could be likened to a communicable disease. He said the proper way to deal with the problem is to isolate the affected areas immediately not to delay action for two years while-waitinto implement a comprehen- Parkway Funds sive plan. The Senator said his original bill designed to deal with the problem was introduced in the 93rd Congress. The Atomic Energy Committee then undertook a survey of 21 sites similar to Vitro. Upon its completion, the Energy Research and Development Administration undertook to award a contract to an architectural and engineering firm to study stabilization and removal of the tailings at each site, estimated to take two years. The study of the Vitro site was completed in October 1975. Senator Frank E. Moss Moss also noted that studies show that mill tailings, such as Senator Frank E. Moss, those at the Vitro site, pose a charged the Energy Research and environmental long-terDevelopment Administration with greater high-levhazard and than health placing the importance of bureauEPA wastes. radioactive ERDA, cratic red tape ahead of concern for and State the Utah Department of the hazards of atomic waste by Health all agree that the hazards to delaying action on the Vitro uranium tailings problem for another human life require removal or disposal of the tailings, he said. two years. In a letter to R. Tenney Johnson, Delay in acting upon a decision ERDA general counsel. Moss criti- which has already been made, as it cized what he called a package has been in all practical respects deal solution planned for 1977. He with regard to Vitro, would amount told Johnson, The prospect you to placing the importance of burpropose merely permits the tailings eaucratic red tape ahead of concern of Vitro to expend two or three for the almost infinite hazards of more years of their radioactive atomic waste, Moss concluded. emanations, with whatever damage Thoughtful consideration of such a while bureaucratic possibility could result only in they may cause, red tape neatly packages a study of immediate action." D-Uta- h, m el 1976 Salt Lake County Budget Goes on Display Utah Power & Light Co. Officials Warn of Impending Rate Increases Utah Power & Light Co. officials warn that, unless the company receives $28.5 million in rate increases, customer service will eventually become inadequate. The warning was contained in written testimony filed with the Public Service Commission. UP&L's four-inc- h stack of testimony and statistics was used by rate increase opponents in their cross examination of utility repre- sentatives. Opponents were expected to argue that the rate request is not nearly as crucial as the utility claims. The hearing before the PSC was in the Salt Lake City Public Library. Translated into consumer terms, the $28.5 million would mean a 19 percent increase for most customers or an extra $3.33 a month. Governor Calvin L. Rampton The exception is the customer who uses irrigation pumps. That perGov. Calvin L. Rampton intends son's bill would rise 45 percent. to ask the Utah Legislature to fund Blaine Davis of the Attorney the provo-Jorda- n River Parkway Office asked why the Generals with a $1.5 Authority fully increases differ so greatrequested million appropriation when the amounts sought in from the ly budget session convenes in Janu- Idaho and Wyoming. E.A. Hunter, ary. UP&L president and general manGordon E. Harmston, director of said the utility is requesting a the Utah Department of Natural ager, $10.4 million rate increase, or a Resources, made that announce- 32.97 percent hike, in Idaho. In ment at a meeting of the authority in the Capitol. The next move is clearly Salt Lake County's, he added. The county must come up with substantial matching funds for the Parkway or it will die, Harmston indicated. Harmston said Rampton has agreed also to an amendment to the V Parkway Authority Bill to allow the local and other county governments to keep title to land they donate to parkway use. The new wording, Wyoming, a $222,000 or 14.7 percent increase is sought. Hunter said he was not sure the size of a home necessarily indicates the amount of power a customer would use. He said he believed usage was based more on lifestyle. The utility says it is a victim of inflation: UP&L cannot sell more stock or increase its rate of return on investments until its earnings it cannot improve its until it undertakes conearnings of new facilities for a struction growing number of costomers; it cannot construct additional facilities unless building costs drop consideraby or until it imposes a rate increase. The rate increase is closely tied to UP&L's ability to build a $475 million power plant in Emery County. Hunter explained the companys position on the rate increase in his written testimony. The rate increase we are seeking is absolutely necessary, he said, if we are to continue to carry out the responsi-VriWti- e of supplying electric service to our customers . . . (The increase) would assure that we maintain the high level of quality and adequacy of electric supply as well as preserve the high environmental stands of our company." improve; TODAYS A EDITORIAL Y Mirages Revealed which Harmston said he will attempt to have the Legislature accept by unanimous vote, is: Where county, city or other public funds are used by the authority for the acquisition of property . . . the authority may acquire such property in the name of the agency that provides the funds. The land so acquired must be dedicated for Parkway pur- Crocker Land, a range of lofty peaks deep inside the Arctic Circle, was discovered in 1906 by Commander Robert Peary. It was undiscovered in 1913 by Donald MacMillan. In the meantime, it had appeared on at A reduced 1976 Salt Lake County received 13 percent cuts including least one map published by a prestigious cartographic the of sanwill recreation, departments go on display for public budget house. itation, in highways and personnel. the Tuesday County scrutiny It was a mirage, says Alistair B. Fraser, probably Some departments including poses." Auditors Office. The $52 million budget is $4 or courts and other departments esSalt Lake County Auditor Gerald of the type known as Fata Morgana. law tablished 1975 left were at million by less than the 1975 level of $5 R. Hansen told Harmston, We're Fraser, a Penn State meteorologist who specializes spending, said auditor Gerald R. levels. really struggling (to provide parkin the study of mirages, provided a fresh explanation of Hansen. Inflation, delinquent The countys special projects way funds in the county budget assessments of property and refund was also reduced greatly. now being worked out.) Well do all the Fata Morgana in a paper presented last month at duced federal grants have ravaged The River Parkway we can. We know its important. the annual meeting of the Optical Society of America in the budget, he said. Authority and the Recreation De- We're just struggling to meet this Boston. was William H. Mach, a graduate The auditors office is writing the partments land acquisition arm will commitment. Provo-Jorda- n Co-auth- budget based on a projection that the county will raise property taxes in August by 2.99 mills. The raise will put the general fund levy at the statutory ceiling of 16 mills. The county last year budgeted on the basis of a similar tax increase, but in August scraped together enough revenue to avoid an increase, said Hansen. It is hoped that an increase can be avoided again next August, he said. In balancing the budget, Hansen said only a few departments were not cut back. Many were cut by five percent, including the offices of the 11 elected officials. Others receive $250,000 each. Commissionmust have 50-5- 0 The ers had promised $500,000 to both local Authorityfunds before it can matching the parkway and to the Recreation use state or federal money. In the Department. of Salt Lake County's some past, has come in the form contribution The Sheriffs Department will receive $285,000 for 20 additional of land for the Parkways use. Also nearly deputies, and the Fire Department in the past, the county gave But in million for the $2 will have $300,000 for more fire Parkway. the it budget gave nothing. fighters. Both departments, howUtah County officials said their will cuts receive five ever, percent in their basic budgets. county will contribute $75,000 to $100,000 for the Provo River end of River Parkway We want people to tell us what the Provo-Jorda- n they want do they want higher Authority this coming year. One taxes or fewer services, McClure official said he believes the larger said. sum will probably be provided. or assistant. Fata Morgana is one of the most spectacular of mirages, Fraser noted, in which castles, cities, walls, A mountains, or forests appear out of nowhere, last a short while, then vanish. He has seen several, and showed color slides that clearly illustrate the phenomenon. In a Fata Morgana, he said, the atmosphere functions as a lens that obliterates natural features and creates others in a fashion that invites a fantastic interpretation. Similar to all mirages, the Fata (continued on page 2) |